I'm a phd who used to be in civil service.

What you write here is certainly the goal, and I had a lot of colleagues who agreed with you. I thought it was bogus then, and I think it's bogus now.

Also people quit jobs all the time because of the boss. Usually it's the direct one, but not always, and as above, so below.

> reasonable scrutiny and auditing

It's been well over a decade since I left, and I'm sure it's gotten worse for those who stayed, but: lol. lmao.