Category Archives: Public sector

In which I wonder if anyone will take our place …

Posted on February 23, 2011 by redundantpublicservant

The following post first appeared in Patrick Butler’s cuts blog in The Guardian on line on 11 February. It is reproduced here by kind permission of The Guardian. Being made redundant implies what you do is no longer needed. For many public servants … Continue reading →

Posted in Big Society, Guardian Society, Public sector, Public service, Redundancy | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

In which I get things into perspective …

Posted on February 18, 2011 by redundantpublicservant

Fellow fans of Douglas Adams will be familiar with the fiendishly cruel Total Perspective Vortex. A device developed by a man exasperated by his spouse’s constant nagging to get a sense of proportion. By clever use of fairy cake he … Continue reading →

Posted in bad news, Public sector, Public service, Redundancy | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

In which I get revisionist (it’s the cowboy in me) …

Posted on February 17, 2011 by redundantpublicservant

I am very fond of the western movie. So much so that, as Mrs RPS will tell you, I’ll watch any old rubbish involving a bloke on a pony waving a gun in the air. Of course I like to … Continue reading →

Posted in 2011, bureaucrats, CSR2010, local government, political debate, Public sector, war on the deficit | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

In which the farewells begin transparently …

Posted on February 16, 2011 by redundantpublicservant

I’ve been to a coffee morning this morning to bid farewell to my excellent team. It was one of those happy-sad occasions. We chewed the cud over the funny incidents and accidents of our time together. And we talked about … Continue reading →

Posted in people management, private sector, Public sector, Redundancy, value for money, war on the deficit | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

In which my jaw goes thwock …

Posted on February 13, 2011 by redundantpublicservant

Sometimes you read something so extraordinary that despite re-reading it two or even three times you still doubt your eyes. I’ve just had that experience when reading a two-page piece in today’s Sunday Times – Time to Tackle Council Excess. … Continue reading →

Posted in people management, Public sector, Public service, war on the deficit | Tagged , | 2 Comments

In which I get reflective and restorative …

Posted on February 9, 2011 by redundantpublicservant

‘They also serve who only stand and wait.’ I somehow missed Milton at school. Perhaps I was off that day. So I’ve struggled with him over the years lacking the easy familiarity that long afternoons in chalky classrooms has given … Continue reading →

Posted in job hunting, personality testing, Public sector, Redundancy, rejection letters | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

In which there are questions of attribution and identity …

Posted on February 4, 2011 by redundantpublicservant

‘If something is not what it claims to be, what is it?’ Like any public servant of a few years’ standing I have an extensive collection of name badges from conferences, training events and other gatherings. Unlike Wayne (in the … Continue reading →

Posted in economy, excellence, job hunting, private sector, Public sector, Redundancy | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

In which we all hold our breath …

Posted on February 1, 2011 by redundantpublicservant

There’s a moment before any action when you take that deep breath to calm your nerves and fuel your muscles. The pause before whatever has to come next. I’ve felt a similar sense of tingling expectancy out in the woods … Continue reading →

Posted in fairness, HR departments, memories, Public sector, Public service, Redundancy, rejection letters, rules and regulations, war on the deficit | Tagged , | 11 Comments

In which there are four weeks left to go (and one of those is half term!) …

Posted on January 31, 2011 by redundantpublicservant

So I’m down to my last month of corporate life in its current incarnation. And in reflective mood. There is a saying that it’s the things you don’t do – rather than the things you do – that you regret … Continue reading →

Posted in bureaucrats, CSR2010, Public sector, Public service, war on the deficit | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

In which the numbers tell their own story …

Posted on January 28, 2011 by redundantpublicservant

As the counter on public (and private sector) job losses keeps spinning – about as fast as the price per litre sign at the village garage – I’ve been struck by language used to describe what’s going on. While the … Continue reading →

Posted in bad news, Big Society, Coalition, CSR2010, private sector, Public sector, Redundancy, war on the deficit | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments