Public service refers to the collective body of public servants and public service organisations. The term public services is used when referring to the public service of multiple countries. These terms are used interchangeably with central governments or public administrations.
Employees refer to public servants in central government administrations who took part or were eligible to take part in the survey. This excludes those employed by state, territorial, regional, and municipal governments, state-owned enterprises, public corporations, and government-owned non-profit institutions. Additionally, it excluded government-employed doctors and nurses working in hospitals, teachers, police officers, judges, firefighters, and military personnel (with the exception of civilian military staff).
Senior leadership, used interchangeably with ‘senior leaders’ or ‘leaders’, refers to the highest-ranking civil servant(s) of the organisation as well as those that lead departments , major workstreams or functional areas within organisations. They are generally responsible for directing the strategy, priorities, and policies of the organisation. In this survey, employees were asked to rate the senior leadership of their organisation, this may refer to one or multiple people.
Line managers, used interchangeably with ‘manager’ and ‘management’ through this chapter, refer to employees’ immediate supervisor - generally responsible for setting the objectives of employees and teams, undertaking performance appraisals, approving leave, and overseeing individual and/or team tasks and progress. In this survey employees were asked to rate their line manager, that is their immediate supervisor.
Turnover or turnover intentions, in the context of the survey, refers to whether employees intend to leave their organisation within the next 12 months. This self-reported intention to leave, not actual turnover, may not always align with actual rates, as stated intentions might not materialise due to barriers such as limited external opportunities or financial constraints.
Productivity refers to the efficiency and effectiveness with which public servants utilise available resources to deliver public services and achieve policy objectives. It encompasses the quantity and quality of outputs produced, the outcomes achieved for citizens, and the degree to which services are delivered in a timely, cost-effective, and responsive manner.