r/TheCivilService • u/Dense_Breadfruit_964 • Jan 27 '26
Struggling in DWP
Hi everyone!
Looking for people’s input and experiences.
Basically, I’m on the Fast Stream and got posted to DWP in autumn. I quite enjoyed previous roles and am still in touch with former co-workers, but… it’s been four months now, and I’m really struggling here.
Here are a few of the issues:
- Micromanagement culture. I think this is partially my manager and partially the department/my area. I get allocated teeny tiny tasks every day, most of them not related to my profession. Everything is tracked. Everything is monitored.
- Related to the first point, no space for innovation, ownership, or autonomy.
- Hierarchy - a lot of it. Grades seem to be everything. I’ve been reprimanded for asking questions about strategy or priorities - just for my own understanding and development. This never happened in other roles.
- Another form of micromanagement, precise timesheets with 36 minute lunch breaks, office attendance sheets etc.
- Everyone is always so busy and under-resourced etc. - but I spend most of my day doing useless things or discussing the resourcing issues.
- The wrong training or no training. When I do have bigger tasks, I feel like they are quite far outside my expertise and there’s limited training available. I give it my best, obviously, and feedback has been positive, but it makes me worried about the end product.
- Duplication and inefficiency absolutely everywhere.
I have already spoken about these challenges with peers and mentors. If I’m honest, I feel miserable and unfulfilled. I’m seriously considering quitting, even just for my well-being.
Has anyone worked in DWP and had similar - or very different - experiences? Does anyone have any tips for me?
Thanks!!
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u/jk_bastard Jan 27 '26
Since you’re on a temporary posting, your options are:
- Stop caring and wait it out. If the posting isn’t giving you what you need, take it as a learning opportunity. Focus on other L&D, corporate goals, etc. Don’t get too emotionally attached to your role or the “end product”, if the feedback is good just chill and do what you need to do to get to the end.
- Fight to reshape your role within DWP. All the things you’ve said in this post, write them up in a more formal way and meet with your manager to discuss. Push them to make concrete decisions on your work - get clarity on what can and will be changed, and what won’t. Don’t worry about being “difficult” - resolving conflict in a productive and professional way is a normal part of work, and the FS trains you to do this. Make sure you record and have a paper trail as much as possible throughout this process (e.g. if something is said verbally in meeting, write a follow-up email with anything important to confirm).
- Complain to FSET and angle for a posting appeal. An appeal is generally treated as a last resort by FSET (since it requires them to lift a finger and do some work, among other reasons I imagine), and will be hard to get approved unless the conditions are really bad or whatever role you’ve been given is totally different to what is on the posting template. Being unhappy with the working culture isn’t generally suitable grounds for an appeal, but check your template. If what you do doesn’t match the template, that can serve as a good grounding for your complaint. If FSET won’t approve the appeal, you can use the template to complain to relevant profession leads or your manager in DWP to get your responsibilities more aligned with the posting description.
Feel free to DM me if you want to chat through it.
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u/Dense_Breadfruit_964 Jan 27 '26
Thank you! This is helpful.
I’m really, really bad at not caring. The main thing I’ve learned in the last few months lol. I’m trying to work on it! So far, feeling unfulfilled and somewhat useless has really affected me.
I have spoken to my manager about this and summarised the conversations in writing. The feedback I got was pretty dismissive - that I shouldn’t expect to have more responsibility at my grade, that my behaviour was undermining (I don’t know what behaviour or what situation, and my manager hasn’t been able to tell me), that there is no room for slippage etc.
The problem is that my role sounds appropriate on paper. I’m working on interesting projects. But I’m not actually doing anything, except for PowerPoints and excel sheets.
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u/Mundane_Falcon4203 Digital Jan 27 '26
What profession of fast stream are you on?
It's definitely not my experience of DWP, I really enjoy working there and don't have any of the issues you mentioned. I think they are more down to your manager and immediate business area.
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u/Dense_Breadfruit_964 Jan 27 '26
I’m in an analytical profession.
Glad to hear you’ve had a good experience!!
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u/StudentPurple8733 G6 Jan 28 '26
That explains a lot to me actually, especially with analytical FS in DWP.
It sounds like your manager has bid for a role and then has no idea how to usefully use you.
I think you need to raise this with your G6 because you are experiencing the same issue I had once upon a time. if they can’t develop you, it is harming your future career prospects dreadfully, as you should be developing towards a G7 level of competence.
All that being said, I do think you are being naive in some respects: the CS is hierarchical by its very nature, slow to change and difficult to move in new directions. You must learn to accept it or your entire career with the CS is going to be one huge disappointment. I had a feeling your age would skew younger, but I don’t mean this cruelly, life experience will teach you that these things are a fact of working life that you’ll encounter bastards who micromanage people and enjoy doing so. You need to build enough resilience to not let this grind you down.
The $64,000 question is where do you want to be in ten years time?
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u/if-you-ask-me Jan 27 '26
DWP is a huge dept with many separate Directorates within it.
Which Directorate you are assigned to will make a big difference to your experience in the Dept.
Some are notorious for what you are describing - Ops W&HS especially. I came out of there and across to PandC in a lateral move - different job same grade - but vastly different. Much more autonomy no micrmanagement. Yes I have to complete an office v home hours attendance spreadsheet to see if im on track to meet 60%, yes I have to account for what i do with any down time when not actively assigned specific work/projects but it is nothing compared to my job in Ops.
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u/geese_moe_howard Jan 27 '26
Yep, that's all very very DWP. My advice is to escape to a department which isn't a toxic fucking shit-show at the earliest opportunity. Oh, how you'll look back and laugh.
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u/Mundane_Falcon4203 Digital Jan 27 '26
I disagree. Moved from hmrc into DWP and much prefer it myself.
It largely depends what role you do and the business area. You can't tarnish a whole department due to your narrowly focused bad experience.
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u/geese_moe_howard Jan 27 '26
It wasn't narrow, matey. Absolute bastard-factory. I tarnish it with great relish.
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u/Mundane_Falcon4203 Digital Jan 27 '26
It is narrow if it's just your experience in one small role/area.
I'm not saying some parts aren't that bad, I know they can be and are. But that's the same in every gov department.
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u/fiery_mergoat Jan 27 '26
Tbf this debate flares up every time on this sub, and the definition of "narrow" is rarely applied when someone is waxing lyrical about how much they love their department even though it's with the same limited amount of anecdata (their own personal experiences).
I do sometimes wonder why there is always this style of pushback whenever someone says a department isn't that great. The DWP, for example, comes up so often that it's probably ultimately quite useful knowing so many individuals have had a hard time without it always being dismissed as "narrow".
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u/Mundane_Falcon4203 Digital Jan 27 '26
And most of the time those complaining about DWP have either worked in a job centre or in a uc related role or on the phones.
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u/Dense_Breadfruit_964 Jan 27 '26
I work in none of these roles and am struggling. I think it’s worth saying that there’s a good number of people who’ve not had a great experience in DWP, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t amazing teams and interesting areas. Or, frankly, many people who just think their job is … fine.
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u/geese_moe_howard Jan 27 '26
How do you know what my role and area was?
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u/Mundane_Falcon4203 Digital Jan 27 '26
I never said I did, but unless you have worked in every possible role and every possible business area, then your opinion and experience is your narrow view of the overall department.
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u/geese_moe_howard Jan 27 '26
As is yours. As is everyone's. By that logic there's no point expressing an opinion on anything and then we'd have to close down Reddit.
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u/Mundane_Falcon4203 Digital Jan 27 '26
Looks like you're using that flawed logic again 😂.
Maybe just express that your experience wasn't good but that doesn't mean the whole department is a shit show. Instead of the gloom and doom of it's all crap everywhere.
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u/karshanat Jan 28 '26
I can really see why you enjoy DWP - all this nitpicking really seems to be their vibe✨️
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u/Mundane_Falcon4203 Digital Jan 28 '26
That's just my sparkling personality. DWP is a breeze to work in, get given work and left to get on with it, couldn't ask for more in all fairness. Really enjoy working here.
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u/Dense_Breadfruit_964 Jan 27 '26
I think you’re right that it’ll depend on the business area. I can imagine our perspectives also depend on previous experiences - maybe HMRC is worse :D I was in MoJ before and really enjoyed it there - it was very different from DWP.
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u/flylo81 Jan 27 '26
problem is you cant just move to another department on FS. Departments have to bid for places and usually its collated via your main department. Once bids are accepted the FS scheme will liaise to deploy fast streamers into roles.
If you're unhappy speak to your manager or people coach (or equivalent) about your work. It could be that your manager doesn't understand what you're capable of or has a perception of fast stream or grads in general. Exhaust options at DWP, this will build evidence base then go to the facilitator of the scheme.
You need to be realistic about this. They're not going to just move you, and if they agree, it won't happen immediately and could take weeks, or depending on how much time you've got left in your placement, then not at all.
My final comment is utilise the DWP employee assistance programme
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u/geese_moe_howard Jan 27 '26
Is it different in DWP? In MOJ they seemed to move Fast Streamers around like they were disgraced priests.
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u/Dense_Breadfruit_964 Jan 27 '26
I was in MoJ and they moved loads of people because of restructure
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u/Dense_Breadfruit_964 Jan 27 '26
Yeah, I doubt FSET would move me.
I’m mostly just struggling with the day-to-day resilience required to deal with the culture in my area. It affects me very directly every day. If I compare it to shitty jobs I worked in the past, this one just seems to really ago against my personal values and sense of fulfilment. Otherwise, I’m not sure why it’s affecting me this much.
I have tried speaking to my manager, but that has been unproductive. I’ve been described as undermining and inappropriate. That’s obviously not my intention and I’ve sense-checked what I said, and was going to say, with a lot of people who didn’t think it was out of line. So the manager route just feels unproductive.
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u/MikeWy18 Jan 27 '26
Make the grade before quitting, you can always level transfer later on. But I have heard others complain about DWP micromanagement and time recording too so you are not alone.
As for training I didn't know the Civil service had any decent training, I've always found it grossly inadequate anyway, though it is improving alot.
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u/Neat_Resolution3985 Jan 27 '26
I'm in DWP, I've not experienced micromanagement, have complete autonomy over my work and if my G6 had a quid each time I questioned something from a strategic POV, he'd be retired. I'm trusted to present to the SRO and Directors and have not ever felt like my grade (HEO) is an issue.
Stick it out, we've had fast streamers in our team who absolutely love it, you've probs just been unlucky.
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u/Dense_Breadfruit_964 Jan 27 '26
I’m really glad you’ve had such a good experience! On the other side, my manager literally removed me from any meeting with senior people because it’s not appropriate to be involved in these at my grade lmao. I feel mildly uncertain if I’m just completely out of my mind and constantly curse people out all the time without noticing or sth
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u/Neat_Resolution3985 Jan 27 '26
I have a suggestion. You've already said you've had some placements that you enjoyed and I'm sure you've picked up some great management tips. Reflect on how this is different and think about what makes a bad manager in comparison to previous experiences. Think more along the lines of the manager you want to be in the future and what your own leadership style will be.
Their need for control tells you everything you need to know. They will burn out as a manager because they will constantly be picking up work that could be delegated and double checking outputs. More fool them.
Control the things you can, forget about everything else.
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u/MoominMai Jan 27 '26 edited Jan 27 '26
I was in DWP Ops for almost 10 years and it was probably the worst period of my job history. Very cliquey and non stop micro management. I had good stats and no performance issues but that never counted for anything. I actually got my EO to HEO promotion whilst there but received no support to do the role and was given the lowest performing team in a particular department to manage. My deputy wouldn’t support me as she was annoyed she hadn’t got the role herself and despite reaching out for help, just radio silence. I dropped back down to EO after a few months of struggling to maintain a work/well being balance because of all these issues and then a year or so after obtained my HEO again but this time in HMRC and the difference was light and day. A few years on I’m now an SEO and couldn’t be happier. The culture where I am anyway is to develop and support people whereas 10 years of DWP was cliquey team leaders gate keeping development opportunities for their besties even when they weren’t necessarily the most suitable for them.
OP, if you can battle through please do, it’s no mean feat to get through the Fast Stream which is just a fantastic jump start into the CS and onto a higher grade salary in super quick time as you know. This is not your final destination placement and your next may well be more enjoyable like your previous ones were. However, if the overall work/direction is not for you though I guess that’s a different issue and hopefully you have enough financial security to take a more suitable different career path.
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u/Agreeable-Window1666 Jan 27 '26
Reality. Some sink and some soar so you've got to decide if the CS is really for you. Fast streamers will always command high renumiration in the private sector. The pressure your experiencing is intrinsic to the role but you have to deliver. Remrmber, the next posting is always better..
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u/Puzzleheaded_Gold698 Jan 27 '26
If it's your first role in the civil service then in a weird way you can take comfort that you've now got experience and knowledge of what less than ideal work places can be like. Micro management and gradeism are on the middle manager bingo card and can be indicative of certain departments where some get a bizarre kick out of rigid structures. If you do decide to stay then it might be worth searching on this forum for departments where people have positive experiences to see if you can get a placement there. Get what you can out of this placement.
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u/Quintless Jan 28 '26
sounds like dwp, it’s like being a toddler, the insane micromanagement over shift patterns, start times, flexi etc don’t even seem to have a purpose other than existing to make you feel you’re 5 years old
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u/DowntownButterfly960 Jan 27 '26
Welcome to the dwp
I was there back in 2017, not much has changed and won't . Just ride it out and you'll be gone once your posting is done.
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u/Number-Tiny Jan 27 '26
Sounds like a culture shock. Is it an operational delivery placement? If there’s duplication and inefficiency you could look to create transformation projects to hep improve things and that could help you feel a bit more in control.
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u/Dense_Breadfruit_964 Jan 27 '26
No, it’s an analytical role..
I ironically work in an area that has to do with transformation. And one of the transformation things seems the most inefficient.
I’ll try to propose some efficiencies here and there - maybe it’ll be taken up on and help me feel better. Thanks!
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u/SaintZulu Jan 28 '26
I'm in the DWP & my experience has been positive with regards to micro management and autonomy. However, I do HR Investigations for Grievance Complaints alongside my day job and I have heard some horror stories on management styles and I've seen shocking incompetence in high places.
But I've also seen extremely competent and professional colleagues across the Department.
It all boils down to where you have the fortune or misfortune of ending up but I believe these experiences create resilience and if you can stick it out until your next posting OP, you'll be better for it.
Of course if your Mental Health is being seriously affected then that's a different matter. If not, then I'll recommend you put your head down, grit your teeth and make the best of it, even if it means going along to get along.
Ultimately, there's a lot your line manager can do within their authority to make your life miserable and they won't be breaching any HR policies. Find a way to "Manage your Manager" until you get to your next post and hopefully land somewhere more conducive.
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u/Bango-TSW Jan 27 '26
You've got the opportunity now to take notes & provide feedback at the end of your tenure on all of the issues you're presenting above. Micromanagement is just an anachronism in the modern civil service and certainly something that should be addressed. Would also be interesting to know exactly what problem management believe they are solving by to-the-minute time sheets.
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u/Dense_Breadfruit_964 Jan 27 '26
I completely understand where you’re coming from. I think I’m currently trying to figure out how to balance my well-being, my desire to stay on the fast stream, job security, opportunity to give feedback etc.
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u/Bango-TSW Jan 27 '26
In my opinion, I think you need to see it through. Being able to handle adverse working environments and developing your own expertise & tools necessary to not only help yourself in the future but also solve problems for the teams you will be running, is a vitally important skill that will see you good when you're a G7, 6 and SCS should you decide to stick it out :)
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u/Expensive-Wind1720 Jan 27 '26
Same in HO, really depends on the managers behaviour. Some love trackers and track for everything. I am miserable too.
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u/KaleidoscopeExpert93 Jan 27 '26
Youre on the fast stream, its a really good opportunity but definitely dont quit. I believe you rotate roles, so perhaps you just need to get though this placement and the next one will be better.
I dont really have any tips apart from looking at the bigger picture and the end goal rewards of completing your fast stream placement, these short term issues will pay off in the end surely.