Survey reveals low morale in local government
Author: Local Government Chronicle |
Low morale, redundancy fears and staffing shortages figure prominently in a survey of local government staff published by Unison.
The sector’s largest trade union force said 60% of staff believed morale among colleagues had worsened over the past 12 months, while just half said they would recommend their job to others.
One third of the 3,500 staff interviewed for the Time for a Change survey said they felt less secure in their job than a year earlier, with men being less positive than women.
Almost 70% of respondents said their workload had increased over the past 12 months, with social workers and carers noting the most marked increases.
Heather Wakefield, Unison ‘s head of local government, said morale among council staff was at an “all-time low” and that the already-rejected 2009-10 pay offer of 0.5% did not recognise the pressures workers were under.
“Our local government members tell us that heavy workloads and staff shortages are increasing stress and forcing down morale,” she said. “Staff and services are already stretched to breaking point.