This article is written by FlexGC, a grassroots volunteer network of Canadian federal public servants that promotes flexible work arrangements. It is not affiliated with the Government of Canada (GC) in any way, shape, or form.

It is Part 1 of a four-part series meant to support public servants as they navigate the twists and turns that come with working in the public service. Read Part 2 on becoming a change leader, Part 3 on building distributed teams, and Part 4 on how to build team culture for hybrid working.

  • The problem: We’re asking public servants to return to a common hybrid work model without providing them with the tools and resources necessary to thrive.
  • Why it matters: Public servants are often leaders - both formally and informally - in their respective spaces. Inadequately equipped public servants lead to inadequate outcomes, impacting the workplace and the nation at large.
  • The solution: The first blog of four, FlexGC is emphasising the importance of sharing experiences, reflecting on public service, and building community in order to weather difficult changes.

This may be your first time working inside of government, and right about now you may be noticing that your team has a process that was not standardised and may feel remarkably inefficient. Alternatively, you might be a seasoned public servant by this point and are left wondering whether or not this is right for you. Wherever you are in your career, you may be struggling right now, and that’s OK.

At FlexGC we hear directly from employees who have to work within inefficient systems, and how burdensome it is. Most have shared that they push their managers for answers as to why things are this way, who in turn, encourage them to do something about it. But how do they do that?

Addressing the issues that plague the public service is no easy fix, especially at a time where public trust in government is waning.

In the federal public service, we should all be trying to hack the way we work, but it isn’t easy and it’s a skill that’s learned. Human-centred design thinking methodologies help us understand that identifying a problem, designing solutions, and implementing those solutions within a relatively reasonable time frame can be done, perhaps not easily, but in a way that is very beneficial for all involved. FlexGC don’t have to be the only ones looking for ways to improve our work lives, you—the employees—have the power to examine and make a pitch for better systems and processes in government.

For some public servants, regardless of the work they do, this practice of evaluating, reviewing, analysing, and ripping apart design can feel a little overwhelming. Addressing the issues that plague the public service is no easy fix, especially at a time where public trust in government is waning. In turn, public servants are left to bear the brunt of the impacts that remain. FlexGC is hearing that GC employees are so overwhelmed with broken systems and processes that it, in turn, has broken confidence in our ability to do our work, in our hope for a better future and in trust overall. So, what’s a public servant to do?

Many public servants turn to social media to read, learn, and listen to others to understand the similar problems and solutions from other Government of Canada employees in the same situation. This connection helps to expand our worldviews and often provides opportunities to seek knowledge, solution ideation, and advice. To support federal public servants, FlexGC ran a social media scan to try and identify some solutions. If you’re feeling like your “golden handcuffs” have lost their shine, here are some tips on how to find your way back to yourself and help build better solutions together:

Pause

First and foremost, take a moment to breathe. Take time to re-evaluate what these feelings mean to you, where they stem from, and identify what’s really at play here. Remember, not all moments are meant to be moments of departure.

Change your perspective

If this moment does not represent a moment of departure for you, try to change your perspective. Does your job afford you certain things that you value, despite its frustrations? For some, it’s the work-life balance. For others, the opportunity to try a wide variety of jobs in different fields while still working for one employer. Sitting in misery cannot help you. If you can’t find your way out of the misery, then it’s time to reconsider whether this may be a moment of departure after all.

Say it out loud

Scary feelings and thoughts have a lot of power. You can take away this power by putting your thoughts out there and working through them if this feels safe to you. For a lot of people finding community either through volunteering, or social media has helped. For others, this might look like having a discussion with your manager or a mentor about finding solutions to improve how you feel. Give yourself permission to put it out there. Saying it out loud can help you find a sense of community, comfort, and solutions.

Find meaning and connection in a community

If you’re still feeling lost or your big feelings remain, consider sharing your mental burden. If you’ve lost your sense of connection to the work you do, consider spending some time connecting and volunteering with a side-of-desk community that inspires you. FlexGC, an unofficial network that supports public servants working remotely, is only one of many communities that you can reach out to learn, connect, and grow new skills through volunteering. The work you do may not always be meaningful to you. Finding a community whose work has special meaning for you can help you identify a new sense of purpose and connect to something bigger.

We wish we had an answer, some type of magic, to help fix the issues that lead a public servant to become demoralised in the first place. Until these issues are addressed, public servants will continue to face the brunt of the consequences. Understandably, this will likely impact your career at some point or another. While there’s no magic, there are communities of support (like FlexGC!) and opportunities for connection that can help you build and maintain your motivation while working as a public servant.

Not all days can be days filled with sunshine and flowers. Some days are meant to be spent connecting to something bigger than yourself.

Note: FlexGC is here to help - this article represents part one of a four-part series meant to support public servants as they navigate the twists and turns that come with working in the public service. Read Part 2 on becoming a change leader, Part 3 on building distributed teams, and Part 4 on how to build team culture for hybrid working.

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(Image Credit: Javier Allegue Barros, Unsplash)