PSYCHOLOGICAL CONTRACT
Civil servants least motivated of all
A new study by UK academics on behalf of the Civil Service has found that the employment relationship in central government is in worse shape than in many other parts of the public sector. The study, co-funded by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and the Centre for Management and Policy Studies, reveals that not only are civil servants less satisfied and committed but they are more mistrustful of management.
Senior managers in central government face a major challenge, says Mike Emmott, CIPD adviser. Their employees feel less positively than any other group of employees including those in local government, the health sector and private industry.
Many central government employees feel let down, says CIPD
Satisfaction rates for civil servants on a whole range of issues are well below those in other sectors:
lowest levels of commitment and satisfaction
not paid fairly for the work they do
least trust in management
less dynamic, creative and friendly climate in the workplace
less positive work-life balance
greater sense that promises have not been kept.
Change does not come without cost
So, why does central government fare so poorly? What seems clear is that the drive for ever-increasing flexibility and improved business performance in central government is proving painful.
As Emmott observes:
Some 65% of central government respondents reported major change during the course of the previous 12 months, compared with 48% in the private sector and an average of 55% overall. Indeed, over the last two decades central government has enjoyed a plethora of initiatives designed to extend the operation of business disciplines and practices.
Not all doom and gloom
The research found that the civil service is leading the way in the development of progressive people management strategies, family friendly policies and investment in training and development. Of 11 progressive practices identified by the CIPD, central government workers report an average of 8.2%, compared with just 5.9% in the private sector.
The government can take considerable comfort from the fact that the public sector is leading the way in establishing top class systems of people management and development, says Emmott.
Want to know more?
Title: The psychological contract in the public sector, by David Guest and Neil Conway, Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.
Methodoloogy: The survey covers 1,500 public sector workers (split evenly between central government, health service and local government) and 500 private sector. Using telephone interviews, the researchers explored workers’ perceptions of their current employment relationship, based on the concept of the psychological contract (see our reward guide on the psychological contract).
Availability: contact the CIPD in London, tel: 020 8263 3232.
To find out more, the CIPD web site is one click away . . . www.cipd.co.uk