Pleas for civil service evaluations be put on hold

Trade unions representing civil servants on Monday demanded that a new evaluation system for promotions be put on hold, as its implementation so far has caused nothing but chaos and misunderstandings.

In parliament, trade unions proposed that the new evaluation system be implemented only on a trial basis this year, and therefore not be factored into the promotions slated for 2024.

They told MPs of a series of ‘distortions’ in the new system, which opens the door wide open to a wave of formal objections by affected civil servants.

Pasydy union boss Stratis Matthaiou stressed, however, that they do not want to go back to the old system of evaluations – only to iron out the kinks in the new one and then implement it.

He spoke of “poor preparation” for the new system, such as that the evaluators did not receive proper training for the task.

According to Matthaiou, there have been instances of threats made to both evaluators and civil servants subject to evaluation.

“Some [evaluators] applied very strict and vindictive criteria,” he noted.

Andreas Louka, also with Pasydy, said “a vicious cycle” has been created inside the civil service.

“Interpersonal relations have been affected – evaluators locking themselves up in their office not daring to see people who are under evaluation.”

And he too warned of a flurry of legal challenges to promotion decisions considered tainted.

A member of the Isotita union told MPs of cases of employees who want to “lynch” the evaluators. There were also cases of employees denied promotion feeling so unwell that they had to be taken to emergency units of hospitals.

Vasiliki Antoniadou, of the Public Service Commission, insisted the new system is a step in the right direction and should not be scrapped altogether because of any problems.

She called the previous evaluation system “outdated” and one that violated the principle of equal treatment.

For his part Giorgos Panteli, the permanent secretary at the finance ministry, said the new system assesses the skills and qualifications of civil servants, rather than years of service.

The old system was ineffectual, as almost everyone used to be graded as ‘excellent’ – depriving superiors of the ability to pick the best for any given task. Also, promotions used to take place based on the date of hiring.

By contrast, the new arrangement will be more meritocratic, while at the same time leading to an improvement in the quality of services offered by the government.