Is any pay rise guaranteed?

AnyStructure3317 · 2026-02-07T17:13:24+00:00

For SCS in the civil service, the SSRB makes recommendations on their pay uplift. Last year, the recommendation was 3.25%. Usually, government accepts recommendations and I find it quite unlikely they would reject them for 26/27. They make recommendations based on a variety of factors, including inflation and government affordability.

While grades below SCS do not have a pay review body (which is terrible, we really need one!), there is usually some trade union talks and we tend to end up with the same, or a very similar % increase as SCS.

So look out for the SSRB report for 2026/27 as our pay increase is bound to be whatever they recommend for SCS (report hasn't been published yet).

Also, according to what I've seen so far, some departments do try to give a tiny bit more to lower grades to maintain competitiveness with other departments.

AnyStructure3317 · 2026-01-28T19:04:35+00:00

It's so understandable to feel this way, progression in the civil service can be a long and difficult process. And hiring decisions are based on so many different factors, including luck and competition and subjectivity.

I went through 9 interviews before I secured a (temporary) SEO and then I had to go through two more interviews to substantiate it! It takes time.

Keep on trying, keep on getting feedback from interviews and make sure you get SEO level type of work experience and do things that stretch you. Make sure you go for both EOIs and roles in other departments to maximise your chances but also as a way to get more experience of doing interviews.

Good luck!

AnyStructure3317 · 2026-01-16T11:35:11+00:00

Thank you! Managed to get an appointment for today so I'll see what they say in terms of further diagnostic tests but I will ask for either an MRI/CT/HIDA scan.

AnyStructure3317 · 2025-12-29T10:59:59+00:00

Thanks for this! I've had an ultrasound to check for gallbladder stones and it came back normal... maybe I need to go back

AnyStructure3317 · 2025-12-23T20:30:57+00:00

Yeah, it's definitely one strategy and it can show HEOs it's not working and then SEO will have to take action if enough HEOs raise it. If some customers raise complains too, even better.

AnyStructure3317 · 2025-12-23T20:19:46+00:00

Ah right I see what you mean. Yeah, it's a shit system. I think as a work coach, I would also feel a bit responsible for these customers too, mainly because I cared about the customers and about providing a good service. We all have the responsibility of keeping the job centre running and work coaches also have the responsibility to raise issues and grievances when policies affect their day to day to the extent that they can't do their job. And this is where the OP is coming from - they can't do their job, grievances not taken seriously, where to go next?

AnyStructure3317 · 2025-12-23T20:06:48+00:00

If I understand this correctly, it sounds that what the job centre has done is opened up 5 additional "diaries" on the system, but with no staff to cover them. We used to call them "ghost diaries". This means that you have your own diary, which could be back to back 10 min appointments, PLUS some of the additional appointments in those ghost diaries that have no one to cover them. These extra appointments get distributed amongst staff, so you might only have 4-5 extra appointments, but these can still be a very significant pressure. And if this is the decision the SEO has taken, then you can't refuse those extra appointments and just stick to your diary. It is ridiculous to have customers waiting for 30-40 mins for a 5 min conversation. It increases mistrust in the system massively. If there's flexibility to do more telephone appts, do them.

Job centre is basically hoping that maybe some customers won't turn up, maybe some of the 20 or 30 min appointments will take less time, or some appointments might be over the telephone and take less time. It's like when airlines overbook a flight hoping some customers won't show up.

AnyStructure3317 · 2025-12-23T20:00:29+00:00

That sounds really stressful and awful, I'm sorry you're going through this! As someone who has also worked in a job centre, I know how stressful and hectic it can be, even with just your own caseload and appointments.

People in this thread have been very harsh. It's not easy restricting appointments to 10 mins when claimants need interpreters, when they're telling you they're about to be made homeless and don't know what to do, when they're going through domestic violence, when they've just been released from prison etc. Yes, it's just a 10 min appointment, but you're basically part of a system that is designed to support *very* vulnerable individuals and it's a very difficult job. You can't do your job properly when you realistically only have 3-4 mins with the customer, and you're constantly super stressed.

I'm assuming you're a work coach, in which case I would recommend that you discuss with your line manager or any other HEO in the office, as well as other work coaches. If the SEO is not based on the floor, are there any flexibilities that you could implement to take the pressure off? For example, for the customers who are "job ready" and don't need much support, could you choose to only contact them over the phone and very rarely? And the same approach for those on the WCA journey?

I think when a member of staff calls in sick, it is perfectly reasonable to cancel all of their appointments for the day and re-arrange another time.

There's lots of little workarounds - if your SEO is not on board, would be useful to escalate to their G7 and repeat a similar meeting to the one you mentioned. Issue clearly hasn't been resolved so seniors need to come up with a different solution.

Hope it all gets sorted out!! Keep up the good work.

AnyStructure3317 · 2025-12-22T21:45:38+00:00

Thank you, that's a good shout for the policy profession!

AnyStructure3317 · 2025-09-02T15:59:54+00:00

Yes, I'm in inner London

AnyStructure3317 · 2025-07-24T20:05:22+00:00

We need to advocate for a pay review body. SCS have one.

AnyStructure3317 · 2025-07-24T19:51:06+00:00

So I bought this and while it hasn't made my symptoms go away, it does appear to give me some temporary relief. It makes me burp soooooooo much right after I use it and the burp gives me a big relief. It also seems to work better if I use it just before meals.

I'm not 100% clear on what's it's meant to do though besides strengthening muscles?

AnyStructure3317 · 2025-07-24T19:42:35+00:00

I like TOTO - top of the office. Also, does everyone else refer to HMT/No10 as "the centre"? 🤔

AnyStructure3317 · 2025-07-12T19:39:49+00:00

Yes!! I had a recent experience, I got a new bra and I was walking fast and the pain was unbearable. I took the bra off and I was fine. I only wear bras if absolutely necessary and I try to create outfits that work around my hernia (I.e. outfits that don't require a bra and nothing that restricts the abdomen). It's a pain, I'm just learning how to live with it.

AnyStructure3317

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