The research into ‘the workplace culture’ of the public sector was conducted by UK consultancy TDP, and resulted in nine recommendations, including investment in ‘people systems’, creating ‘culture champions’ and inviting politicians to ‘model positive behaviours’.
TDP were awarded a £3.5 million contract by Mr Parker’s office in September to create a ‘one government, Team Jersey culture’ in the public sector – the production of this 50-page report is the first phase of that work.
The basis of the report’s findings was a series of interviews conducted by TDP with States employees, politicians, parish representatives and Islanders to ‘determine the prevailing view of the public sector, and to help devise the direction of the transformation programme’.
These interviews produced a largely negative picture of what working for the States currently entails, touching on aspects as diverse as the prevalence of a bullying and blame culture through to the sense that senior managers are ‘pretending that open-plan offices work for everyone just to save money’.
However, the report also highlighted the ‘strong personal pride people [States employees] have in their work and in their jobs in the public service’.
Pay disputes, as well as the hiring of interims and consultants, combined with criticisms about historical practices, were found to contribute to a feeling among States workers that they are undervalued.
The ‘disaster’ of the new hot-desking working practice introduced by Mr Parker was also highlighted, as was the fact that many employees remain unclear about the ‘changes that are taking place and why they are happening’.
Further communications-based concerns were also expressed by employees – a ‘key theme’ among ‘all colleague groups’, for example, was that the States suffers from ‘negative public perception’ – and by external parties, such as the desire to receive more communications ‘not necessarily coming from the communications team but from civil servants and politicians’.
Another ‘key issue’ that the report identified was that employees felt they were sent so many emails, sometimes with a ‘patronising tone’, by the States communications team – TDP commented that they ‘regularly heard the term “death by email”’ during their interviews with States workers.
However, the States’ new communications strategy, which has seen the building of a team of as many as 30 press officers and communications professionals, was deemed to be ‘beyond the scope’ of TDP’s report.
Chief Minister John Le Fondré said that the report would lead to a ‘comprehensive action plan’.
‘This frank report has identified where we need to focus our attention, so that we can create a more positive working environment,’ he said. ‘I am pleased that the report highlights the pride and passion of the people who work here, and I acknowledge the legacy weaknesses in our systems, processes and culture.
‘We have listened to the analysis of the barriers to positive team-working and accept the recommendations that have been outlined. We are now moving on to the next phase of the Team Jersey programme, which will develop a positive workplace culture through a comprehensive action plan, overseen by the Team Jersey programme board and, ultimately, the Council of Ministers.’
