Remarkable rise in how often we say ‘thank you’ to civil service workers

Survey shows increase of 81 per cent in the space of one year as nation prepares for Public Service Day

A remarkable turnaround in the way the nation feels about public sector workers has been highlighted by a survey which says appreciation for those working in the civil service has risen by 81 per cent in one year.

Just 12 months ago, before the coronavirus pandemic, a survey by public sector membership club Boundless asked public sector workers when they were last thanked for the doing their job.

It was commissioned in the build-up to UN Public Service Day, which falls on June 23, and shockingly revealed that the average key worker had gone 57 days without a ‘thank you’.

Now the same survey has been repeated ahead of this year’s Public Service Day – and the overall figure has dropped to just nine days.

That’s an 84 per cent difference in 12 months across all public sector roles.

For civil service workers, who said it had been 90 days since they were last thanked when surveyed in May 2019, that figure has now dropped to just 17 days – a difference of 81 per cent.

The same survey also revealed:

• 68 per cent of civil service workers say they either love or like their job.
• 53 per cent are proud to be part of the public sector.
• 55 per cent feel a strong connection with other people working in the public sector.

Now the public is being encouraged to continue its appreciation by supporting Public Service Day.

The day, officially launched by the United Nations as long ago as 2003, has barely been recognised in the UK so far. Boundless, which was founded in 1923, wants to turn this around and bring the UK together to celebrate the contribution made to society by millions of public service workers, from nurses to teachers, firefighters to administrators and police officers to care workers.

Darren Milton at Boundless said: “This year Public Service Day falls on Tuesday 23 June and it’s a wonderful opportunity to remind the nation’s public service workers, including those working in the civil service, that we won’t forget what they have done for us. Not least during the last few months.

“The figures coming back from our survey are hugely encouraging because they show that millions of people have been saying ‘thank you,’ and doing so far more often than a year ago. “

Not everything in the Boundless survey was rosy.

For instance, 32 per cent in the civil service still said they had never been thanked by the public for doing their job, whilst 51 per cent their role was less valued by society than 10 years ago.

“It’s clear there’s more to do,” said Darren. “Although people have said thank you more often to civil service workers this year, there are still many who are not public facing and don’t hear those messages of support. They still feel under-appreciated.

“The next step is to back Public Service Day and to think about ways that we can value all our public sector workers, long after the coronavirus pandemic has gone.”

Please visit www.boundless.co.uk/publicserviceday2020 for more information.

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Methodology

2020 survey:

Fieldwork: Markettiers

Sample: 2,003 UK workers

Survey period: May 2020

2019 survey:

Fieldwork: Censuswide

Sample: 2,004 UK workers

Survey period: June 2019

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Editors notes

Boundless is a membership club for civil service and public sector workers who are looking for inspiration on getting the most out of their free time. With a heritage and expertise dating back more than 90 years, Boundless offers its 230,000 members deals on hundreds of unique experiences, events, volunteer activities and things to do. It’s also mutual, so all profits go straight back into the club to benefit members.