One-in-three civil servants moan of being overworked and barely half 'proud' of their job

Pride in working in Whitehall has also taken a hit, with only 58 per cent of civil servants expressing pride in their department.

The same proportion would recommend their organisation as a good employer.

Self-assessed productivity has declined notably, dropping from 68 per cent in 2023 to just 62 per cent of workers describing themselves as operating at 90 to 100 per cent capacity.

The survey, conducted across September and October, was quietly released last week.

John O'Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, condemned the findings as evidence of a deeply flawed workplace culture within government.

"This shows just how rotten the culture is in parts of the civil service," he said.

Mr O'Connell argued that Whitehall employees enjoy exceptional benefits that most British workers could only dream of, pointing to substantial pay increases, gold-plated pensions, remarkable job security, and generous holiday and sick leave entitlements.

"Yet far too many will simply never be satisfied, no matter how much they're showered with perks and salary increases," he added.

The campaign group leader called for comprehensive reform of the bureaucracy, advocating for a significantly reduced civil service focused primarily on delivering results rather than expanding its own ranks.

Former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith levelled sharp criticism at senior civil service management, accusing them of excessive accommodation towards their workforce.

"The leaders of the civil service have pandered for too long to much of the workforce," he told The Daily Mail.

Sir Iain also highlighted the persistence of remote working arrangements, noting that many Whitehall offices remain sparsely populated as staff continue operating from home.

He added: "You can still walk into departments and find people not there because they're all still working from home".

The former Tory leader urged civil service bosses to mandate a return to office-based work and remind employees of their advantageous position.

"It's time for the civil service leadership to get people back to the office and start explaining that civil servants have a highly privileged position with career progression and pay and perks which most people across the country could only dream of," he said.

The civil service has expanded dramatically over the past decade, growing from 384,000 employees just before the 2016 Brexit referendum to 554,000 by September last year.

Labour has committed to reducing Whitehall's size by approximately 50,000 positions, representing roughly one-in-ten posts, to bring staffing back towards pre-Brexit levels.

Despite efforts to encourage a return to workplace attendance, several major departments report office presence rates barely exceeding 60 per cent.

A Cabinet Office spokesman defended the civil service's record, stating: "The Civil Service continues to be recognised as one of the best employers in the country, and our focus remains on delivering the best possible service for the taxpayer".

The spokesman added that the Government remains committed to modernising the state through technology to boost efficiency and eliminate waste.