Agenda item

INFORMATION NOTE OF THE HR SERVICE MANAGER

To receive an update on the progress made in the last quarter completing HR work and projects and supporting people issues.

RESOLVED: That the Information Note entitled “HR Update” be noted.

Audio Recording – 9:43

The HR Services Manager presented the Information Note entitled “HR Update” and highlighted the following points:

·         The People Recovery Plan covered a gradual return to office based working and noted that flexibility was considered a key benefit by staff;

·         The HR team was working on guidance and principles to assist managers and teams in returning to more in-person working;

·         Staff turnover was still high in line with national trends and this was reflected in the number of vacancies;

·         Several successful appointments had been made including the recruitment of  new apprentices and one role under the Kickstart scheme;

·         The HR team was undertaking a recruitment refresh project to review each stream of the recruitment process to ensure that talented candidates were attracted to roles at the Council;

·         A review of staff benefits was underway to assess best value for money and which benefits staff most valued;

·         Given economic conditions and the local government funding situation staff benefits beyond pay were increasingly important in attracting and retaining talent;

·         Mental health and wellbeing remained a focus for the HR team; Mind e-learning was available on the growzone for staff and managers and corporate use of the Headspace offer was positive with 18,000 minutes spent on the app in total;

·         The Inclusion Group continued to meet quarterly; the meeting in March focussed on religion and belief, and the group continued to be a forum for open and safe discussion of individual perspectives and experiences;

·         Absences due to COVID had reduced slightly but short term absences have increased overall likely related to an increase in social activity and the circulation of minor infections.

The following Members asked questions:

·         Councillor Elizabeth Dennis-Harburg

·         Councillor Tom Plater

·         Councillor Raj Bhakar

·         Councillor Claire Strong

Questions raised covered topics including:

·         2022 Pay bargaining and negotiations

·         Guidance and principles to managers on the return to office working

·         The Council’s diversity and inclusion strategy

·         Recruitment refresh and review plans

In response to questions the HR Services Manager advised:

·         Regional pay briefings were ongoing and it was anticipated this round of negotiations would be difficult; employers were expecting the unions submission soon and expected there to be significant differences in the unions’ request and the employees offer

·         The HR team and management understood that staff value flexibility and guidance offered to service managers and team leaders on encouraging office-based working would reflect that;

·         The Inclusion Group was expanded from the Gender Pay Gap working group in 2020 and has discussed a range of characteristics protected under the Equality Act 2010 and was now looking at broadening the focus of its work; feedback from staff was valued and while no senior leadership team were part of the group in order to keep it a safe space for open discussion, the HR team briefed the Service Director – Resources after each meeting with any key issues raised;

·         A recruitment review/refresh was on the horizon as a potential project for some time but now was an especially apt time to undertake the work;

·         There was not a clear pattern evidenced in exit interviews to explain why staff were leaving; some turnover was positive but the HR team tries to identify trends that might indicate problems in the organisation.

In response to questions the Service Director – Resources advised that the guidance and principles document for managers on returning to office working would highlight the four main groups of staff as regards home/office working; those that always work from home; those that always work in the office; those who worked across the District travelling to various sites and locations; and hybrid workers.

It was:

RESOLVED: That the Information Note entitled “HR Update” be noted.