I recently asked for input from HMRC staff about
Dorothy Brown (HMRC's Director of HR Operations) wrt HMRC's
ongoing promotion exercise that is causing angst amongst staff.
My thanks to a loyal reader who dropped me a wee note about the exercise, that adds some grist to the mill.
Seemingly this is the first major internal promotions exercise carried out within HMRC for a number of years. My loyal reader understands that there are around 500 AO to O grade promotions, and around 50 O to HO grade promotions.
Apparently a similar number of vacancies existed last year. However, most of these were filled by the transfer of staff who would otherwise have been made redundant.
Moving forward one year, I understand that HMRC have told staff that lessons had been learned and that this new round would be through a more streamlined system.
Staff would need to:
1 Complete an online application form, giving examples of those competences that "the lean machine" is looking for.
2 Provide a supporting statement from their manager.
3 Complete and pass an online psychometric test.
Once these stages were completed, those applicants who passed the test could then expect that their forms would be graded by a human being and any ties would be decided by reference to those online scores.
I am given to understand that around 4,000 applications were made.
Ironically HMRC's "professional" HR people eg Mike Falvey and Dorothy Brown were overwhelmed by the response (so much for having their fingers on the pulse of their staff!).
Thus, having been overwhelmed, they decided to change the rules of the game (midway through), and set a cut off level of the top 1,500 highest scoring individuals who could expect their applications to be considered. Those below this level (even if they were more capable, but not used to timed tests) were cast to the wind.
I understand that Falvey et al are now burying their heads in the sand and ignoring questions and complaints about the handling/mishandling of the process.
A cynic might ask if Falvey has too much on his plate, what with being Chief People Officer and owner of
Mike Falvey Associates?
As ever comments, opinions and further information are always welcome.
Thanks.
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