The results of the first North Lanarkshire Council staff survey – covering every service in the council – have been published, providing a clear picture of employees' opinions on a variety of areas relating to their employment.

 

The survey was completed at the end of last year, with almost 4,000 employees (some 21.5 per cent) responding to questions on areas such as communications, culture, leadership, job satisfaction, and training and development.

 

Through the survey, employees also expressed their views on two of the main changes that have impacted on the council's workforce since local government reorganisation in 1996 – the implementation of job evaluation and the introduction of the Service and People First change management programme.

 

The results highlight the key findings of each section of the survey, consider the difference in responses from the various council services, draw together the key conclusions and discuss how to take forward the issues highlighted in the report. 

 

Chief Executive Gavin Whitefield said: "I would like to thank all those employees who took the time to complete the survey and let their views be known. In an organisation of this size – with more than 18,000 employees – it is vital that we know what our own people think of the council and our staff survey gave us the opportunity to do that on a council-wide basis for the very first time."

 

Mr Whitefield continued: "Given the timing of the survey, it is not surprising that a particularly high number of respondents are employed in groups that are now protected grades following job evaluation – an essential element of our commitment to deliver the national agreement on single status and address equal pay issues – or who felt more affected by Service and People First – our ambitious change programme – and this is clearly reflected in the responses.

 

"However, it was vital that we asked these questions – particularly at that time – and actively sought the views of our employees on these major projects. This exercise was always about genuine two-way communication with our employees and we could never have achieved its objectives if we had simply ignored these issues. 

 

"We'll now use these responses to engage in further frank and open debate with our employees, providing the opportunity to discuss how we can collectively address the areas of concern. However, it is equally important to highlight that the survey results convey very positive messages about the council as well as identifying areas for improvement."

 

"Ultimately this survey has provided us with valuable information that we will now use to develop action plans – at both corporate and service level – to address the key issues identified and future surveys will allow us to track progress against this baseline audit", Mr Whitefield added.

 

"Workforce development and improving organisational culture are two key elements of our Service and People First programme and before we can progress in these areas, we need to know what our starting point is and this survey has allowed us to do that.

 

"We are committed to working with our employees to identify and address areas for improvement as well as recognising where we are getting things right and that picture is now starting to take shape.

 

"This was a vitally important exercise and I would again like to thank all those employees who participated in the survey and who were open and honest in their responses. We will be repeating the survey in the future and I hope more employees will contribute and help us take positive action to support the council in putting Service and People First at all times."

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