The truth about Whitehall is that it’s a lousy place compared to many other working environments in London, and in the UK at large. I’ve met hundreds of senior professionals that have struggled with its low quality of output.
It feels to some like the booking software used by most of the offices there is glitchy most of the time. Also, the staff aren’t known for their general attentiveness to requests or their awareness of basic government protocols.
The MOD building near its edge is a particular site of concern. It’s been known for systems deleting key files at random; people being left without pay since day one; and matters like food and IT systems not being looked at periodically.
The straits many high level officials have been through have led to some committing suicide, others ending up in hospital, and still more leaving to find other work to do. It’s happened during some of the UK’s most pressured moments of late.
