Agenda item

The Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development introduced the report and gave credit to its author. He said that staff sickness levels had increased, but levels remained lower than the sector average.

The Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development said that staff were keen on the blended working model and that a policy was being drafted. He said that staff felt supported and that a range of resilience workshops were available on the intranet.

The Chairman thanked the Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development for his report.

Councillor Connolly asked if the Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development was confident that staff absence for minor illnesses was not stress related.

The Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development said that this was a hard question to answer, but that he had to accept what staff put on their self-certifications. He said that some stress was personal, and that during 1-2-1’s staff were asked how they were. He said that staff were given tools and signposted to resources were appropriate.

Councillor Willcocks asked if a year-on-year comparison was available for the reasons relating to long term absence.

The Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development said that previous year’s reports would have this information. He said that this was an area which Leadership Team were to look at. 

Councillor Smith said that 41% of respondents to the staff wellbeing survey had said that a demanding workload was their biggest challenge and asked why addressing this was not in the report’s actions for next year.

The Human Resources Officer said that responses to staff exit questionnaires were fed back to Heads of Service and Line Managers.

The Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development said that respondents to the staff wellbeing survey were asked what their biggest challenge was and were given multiple choice answers. He acknowledged that a demanding workload was commonplace but said that when asked elsewhere in the survey if they felt supported staff had replied ‘yes’.  

The Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development said that it was unaffordable to employ extra staff and that supervision and support was in place for staff. He said that this was why it did not appear as a specific action within the report, but that he was open to any suggestions Members may have. 

Councillor Smith asked for further information regarding Mental Health First Aid training.  

The Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development said that Mental Health First Aiders were volunteer members of staff who were visible to others. He said that the council needed to train more staff to add to the current number.

Councillor Connolly asked if there were indicators on how far the council could go in relation to reducing staff. 

Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development said that front line services needed to be protected, but due to finances it was now not always possible to afford a gold standard of service. He said that the Council had several shared services, and that service reviews and business cases would suggest required staffing levels.

Councillor Connolly asked if there were any indicators for how reductions were impacting staff health, and if the reduction process contained a risk assessment question relating to the impact on staff. 

The Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development said that the service review in Planning did not lead to any reductions and that the Corporate Support Sub review was currently being worked on. He said that the review in Finance did result in some redundancies, but the process set out how the service would work without the redundant positions. He said that it was a balance for managers as the Council had to make savings.

Councillor Connolly asked if the Committee could be provided with data relating to staff stress going forward.

The Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development said that he would include the analysis of staff stress and mental health in the Quarter 1 report, which would be on the agenda at the next meeting of the Committee.   

Councillor Willcocks askedif staff were obligated to work from home.

The Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development said an offer of blended working was made to all staff (where their job allowed), and that staff who wanted to work in the office, could do so. He said that home workers had to confirm that they had the appropriate equipment to work from home.

The Chairman asked what opportunities there were for informal social networks for home workers.    

The Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development said that the council advocated a 50/50 blended working pattern to ensure interaction between staff. He said that home workers needed to be fully contactable and in the case of new staters supported by colleagues in office. 

It was moved by Councillor Buckmaster and seconded by Councillor Willcocks that the recommendations, as detailed be approved. After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, the motion was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED – that the Annual Employee Health and Wellbeing Report 2022/23, including the actions in section 8.0 planned for 2023/24, be considered and any comments be provided to the Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development.