STAFF at Argyll and Bute Council are concerned about the security of their jobs and the increased pressures they face in them, a report has warned.
The document, produced for Audit Scotland by the Accounts Commission, has also said that sickness absence levels for non-teaching staff have increased “significantly” in two years.
Overall, the report says that the council has made progress since the last report was compiled in 2015, but there remains more to be done.
The council’s chief executive has said in response that an action plan is currently being developed to allow the views of staff to be heard better.
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The report said: “The council has made progress in working to understand the views of its staff and undertook employee surveys in 2016 and 2019.
“While respondents felt increasingly positive about the balance of their employment deal, the 2019 survey highlighted issues around communication from senior management, uncertainty over job security and recognition.
"The response rate fell from 23 per cent in 2016 to 20 per cent in 2019.
“In June 2019, using the results from the employee survey and other intelligence, internal audit reported on the organisational culture of the council.
“The report identified seven areas for improvement that included: better communication from senior management; clarifying the performance development review process; improving training programmes and providing evidence of the actions taken in response to employee surveys.
“At December 2019 the council had completed 11 of its 26 actions in response to the internal audit report, but it is too early to conclude what impact these have had on culture and staff perception.
“Savings plans identify projected staff cuts in certain services each year. Feedback from a selection of staff that we spoke to during the audit said this was unsettling and is having an impact on the health and wellbeing of council employees.
“Staff also reported that they are concerned over job security and increased work pressures. They worry about having to take sick leave and how this will be perceived.
“Staff feedback highlighted an example of a council support service not having sufficient staff resource to provide basic service provision, adding significant pressure to those staff still in place.
“In response the council had to recruit additional members of staff with less experience.
“Sickness absence levels for non-teaching staff have increased significantly over the last two years.”
Pippa Milne, the council’s chief executive, said: “We welcome the report as it highlights the positive improvements we have made to date and also recognises areas where we can learn and improve.
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“Argyll and Bute has faced some of the most severe budget cuts of all local authorities and unfortunately that does bring challenges across our services.
“Listening to employees and looking after their wellbeing, as we continue to deliver essential services, is a priority for the council.
"Since the initial survey, we have made progress in how we reach a geographically dispersed workforce and we value their ongoing feedback.”
“We now have a dedicated health and wellbeing team offering support to staff and an employee counselling service if required.”
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