THE Chief Minister has said the government is “committed” to dealing with allegations of bullying and harassment in the civil service after a new report into the issue showed the situation had improved since a damning review.
Deputy Lyndon Farnham commented on research undertaken by UK company HR Lounge, which followed on from two previous assessments published in 2018 and 2021.
HR Lounge’s previous analysis found that public-sector employees were being routinely “shouted at”, “belittled” and made the subject of “loose talk and gossip” – with few ever speaking out over fears that doing so would be “career wrecking”.
The findings led the States Employment Board to commit to a number of policy changes, including the establishment of new guidelines on what constitutes bullying and a dedicated whistleblowing line.
The government also signed a £3.5m contract with a UK consultancy firm to help change the culture of the organisation and instil a “Team Jersey” attitude in all employees.
In its latest assessment, HR Lounge concluded that the government had “continued to make good progress”.
“In all respects – policy, managerial awareness, quality and training of investigations, numbers of complaints – you have continued to improve the position from that first noted in 2018 and reviewed in 2021,” the report stated.
“Even the fact that you wish to review this further, emphasises how important you view this work and wish to be the best that you can in dealing with allegations of bullying and harassment.”
Deputy Farnham thanked HR Lounge for its report, adding: “We welcome the findings of the review and are pleased that our continued progress and commitment in dealing with allegations of bullying and harassment has been recognised.
“It is important that we maintain this progress.”
States Employment Board vice-chair and Assistant Chief Minister, Deputy Malcolm Ferey, said: “We welcome these findings, which are testament to the hard work of the team within People Services.
“We take bullying and harassment very seriously, and we are clear that they have no place in Jersey’s public workforce.”
