Guidance

Civil Service management code

The 'Civil Service Management Code' sets out the rules and principles which government departments and agencies must adhere to in the exercise of their discretions to set certain terms and conditions of service for their employees.

• From: Civil Service and The Rt Hon Lord Maude of Horsham
• Published: 1 July 2013
• Last updated: 5 January 2026
  Show all updates

  1. 5 January 2026

     Updated the summary text

  2. 9 November 2016

     Updated November 2016 guidance

  3. 27 March 2015

     Section 9.3 updated with new guidance added about shared parental leave.

  4. 24 March 2015

     Updated statement of changes letter published

  5. 16 March 2015

     Section 4.2.4 - Standards of conduct to be reflected in local staff regulations - updated

  6. 22 October 2014

     Updated terms and conditions published, along with document listing the changes made.

  7. 1 July 2013

     First published.

Documents

Civil Service management code: November 2016

MS Word Document, 150 KB

Civil Service management code: statement of changes: November 2016

MS Word Document, 47 KB

Details

The management code sets out regulations and instructions related to civil servants’ terms and conditions of service. It covers:

• recruitment and probation
• equal opportunities
• health and safety
• conduct and discipline
• management and development
• pay and allowances
• expenses
• hours, holidays and attendance
• staff redeployment
• leaving the Civil Service
• appeals and legal representation at public expense