Weak Management - Avoid DE&S. Work in MOD instead but not DIO
Pros
* Provide training for qualifications * Flexible working and holidays
Cons
* Historic culture of bullying, discrimination and harassment by middle management (in existence since 2007 and worsening). * "Free for all" in terms of staff discipline and management. Urgent need for a fully functioning HR Section with staff that have knowledge of employment law. HR has no authority with decisions left to managers without the necessary experience or knowledge when things go wrong. * Performance culture (Yr End Review) based on who you know rather than on results. Managers too blinded by personality rather than on delivery. Poor performance ignored.Management never accepts responsibility for failings or puts things right. * To move posts you either have to apply externally or leave with management often interfering in applications to stop people moving. For some staff, the issues are such that it can affect mental health through the inability to move posts quickly or not at all. Lack of duty of care shown in all levels throughout the organisation. Your success is based on the quality of your management and under Transformation, you no longer have the ability to move to get out of situations. * Promotion is almost impossible to achieve in lower grades especially in Finance and Project Controls with only 10% salary increase offered. Lower starting salaries since Transformation. Ability to earn more is based on Management offering you and recognising work which exceeds objectives (rare). Very common to be expected to take on work at higher grades with DE&S failing to pay deputising allowance. Continual history of broken promises from management. * Continual drive to recruit from outside and ignore talent within the organisation * Better opportunities in Project Management and Commercial than in Cost Control or Finance (poorly managed) * Culture of middle management bearing down on lower staff, imposing unreasonable workloads and expecting staff to work whilst on leave, weekends or evenings whilst the management has a life. Difficult to take leave. * Since 2016, blame culture is common practice where management fails to respond to feedback. Working relationships with other functions can be strained to the point at which processes fail to function effectively. No support from management in many cases. * Parking onsite and commuting is an issue. * Not an inclusive culture - disabled staff in particular tend to have a poor experience where managers cannot be bothered to service or respect reasonable adjustments. Often witnessed staff excluded from activities *Lack of on the job training - you have to train yourself and don't expect help from others. Some (not all) staff are very self centred and back stabbing is common.
