FDA supports new online civil service job-share board

Left to right: Cabinet secretary Sir Gus O'Donnell; Jonathan Lepper - the civil servant who came up with idea for the board; and Judicial Studies Board chief executive Maggy Pigott explaining the benefits of job-sharing.

A civil service-wide online job-share board has been launched on 19 May 2009 at HM Treasury. Potential job-sharers enter their details (name, grade, experience etc.) on the site, find possible matches, meet up and, if they can agree terms, apply for jobs either in one of their home departments or in response to cross-Whitehall adverts.

At the launch, Jonathan Lepper, from HM Treasury, explained how he came up with the idea when he went back to work following a transplant operation and wanted to consider job-sharing, but couldn't find anyone to share with. Lepper then put the idea to the Lions' Lair - a BBC Dragons' Den-style cross examination from a panel including 'dragon' Peter Jones - at Civil Service Live in March 2008. The majority of the panel liked Lepper's idea and a meeting at the Cabinet Office was arranged, which eventually led to the board launch.

Speaking at the launch, cabinet secretary Sir Gus O'Donnell said: "As one in five of the civil service work part-time, [the job-share notice board] is a brilliant scheme that allows the civil service to retain the best talent." Other speakers included HM Treasury permanent secretary Nick Macpherson, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) permanent secretary Helen Ghosh, director general of welfare and well-being at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Sue Owen and Judicial Studies Board chief executive Maggy Pigott, who is one half of a 21-year-long job-share partnership.

FDA national officer with responsibility for equalities Ro Marsh said: "The FDA is delighted that Jonathan Lepper had the personal commitment to get this civil service-wide initiative off the ground. We are particularly pleased at the level of support for the project and hope that the notice board is found to be useful and effective."

For more information go to the civil service website job area and click on the job-share notice board link on the left-hand side of the page. Please note that potential job-sharers will have to be registered on the civil service website to be able to access the board.