Treasury called out for staff turnover and reports of "poor management"

Wednesday 09 September 2020

Questions have been raised about the staff turnover rates and treatment in the Treasury Department, with claims of "poor management" and pressure leaving some "crying at their desks."

The Department currently has the third highest vacancy percentage in the Government, with 17.72% (54 posts) available as of July 2020.

Recently released figures show that 34 members of staff left the department in 2019, with a further 12 following this year.

In total, the department has had 75 staff members depart in the past two years.

Speaking during yesterday’s States Assembly meeting, Treasury Minister Susie Pinel explained that “as recruitment continues for the July 2020 vacancies, there are a number of roles that are currently at shortlisting or offer stage. 

Pictured: Treasury Minister Susie Pinel said that part of the reason for vacancies was to do with competition from the finance industry. 

“Going forward, Treasury and Exchequer plan to develop a targeted recruitment campaign in Q4 of 2020, which will include analysis and market mapping of the skills required and available, and priority list of vacancies.”

She also noted that “it has been very difficult to fill the vacancies because the people available with the necessary knowledge are usually snapped up by the finance industry.” 

However, Senator Kristina Moore, who has been pushing for more exit interviews within the department to find out what has been driving people to leave, followed this up later by asking whether the Minister was “content” with “situation with staff turnover and vacancies in her department.” 

Senator Moore spoke of the “feedback that we have received from members of staff, current and former, who have told us about the distress that is sometimes caused by poor management and the high pressure they experience in their working day, and a lack of support which is felt.”

She also mentioned that “one person told us of seeing people regularly crying at their desks.”

Responding to this, the Minister claimed that much of the reason for the difficult and busy times was due to changing from a 35-year-old computer system, online filing and moving buildings.

Asked by Senator Moore how she would improve the turnover, she replied: “I wouldn’t call it turnover, it’s recruitment and we’ve been very successful at filling a lot of the vacancies.

Pictured: Senator Kristina Moore probed into the Treasury Department's turnover, citing reports of distress in the work environment. 

"There are still more to go, and we are constantly monitoring staff wellbeing, and have fulfilled a lot of vacancy requirements as I’ve said – so the situation is improving on a day-to-day basis.”  

Express reported earlier this year that Revenue Jersey's overtime bill hit £130,000 in 2019 - £15,000 more than the previous year - following a 50% drop in staffing levels.

Discussion of the reasons behind staff turnover and departures in the Government have also been in the public eye recently.

Last month, HR specialists who first called out civil service bullying and harassment in 2018 were reported to have returned to the island to see if the Government had effectively changed its culture.