The HMRC has faced a significant rise in dismissals, reaching a five-year peak of 179 employees let go for gross misconduct.
- This increase marks a 43% rise from 2020, highlighting a firmer approach towards disciplinary matters by the department.
- The dismissals now account for over half of all terminations at HMRC in the past year, indicating a shift in organisational policy.
- Incidents of gross misconduct include severe breaches such as fraud, unauthorised database access, and unlawful information disclosure.
- The department confronts operational challenges, compounding issues with staffing and service standards, amid rising demand for its services.
The HMRC has marked a significant rise in employee dismissals for gross misconduct, reaching a five-year peak of 179 cases. This represents a 43% increase from 2020, when 125 employees were dismissed for similar reasons. These dismissals now constitute over half of the 321 terminations recorded at the department this year, reflecting a stricter stance on disciplinary issues.
Gross misconduct encompasses severe infractions such as bullying, theft, intoxication, damage to property, and gross negligence, seriously harming organisational integrity. Specifically, at HMRC, offences can include unlawful disclosure of sensitive taxpayer information or fraud using government systems. One notable case involved a tax office employee jailed for over two years for a £300,000 child benefit fraud.
Unauthorized access to government databases remains a serious offence. An example is Louise Kelly from the Department for Work and Pensions, who was dismissed for improperly accessing a neighbour’s address through a sensitive database. Her case, upheld by an employment tribunal, underscores the necessity of strict policies to prevent such misuse.
The rise in dismissals coincides with operational challenges at HMRC, particularly in customer service, with only 66% of calls answered last year, falling short of the 85% target. This shortfall has been exacerbated by increased demand due to frozen tax thresholds leading more taxpayers to higher rates.
Meanwhile, the atmosphere within HMRC indicates growing dissatisfaction, with bullying and harassment levels reported at 8% and employee engagement the lowest in the civil service at 56%. The department aims to address these issues by ensuring adherence to codes of conduct and preparing for additional funding to support recruitment and maintain standards.
HMRC’s increased focus on disciplinary breaches reflects the department’s ongoing efforts to uphold integrity amidst operational and service challenges.
