Whistleblowing bid to raise city staff morale

An amendment passed by the council’s corporate policy and strategy committee said a whistleblowing policy was being drawn up in consultation with trade unions.

Chief executive Sue Bruce was asked at a meeting to investigate what steps had been taken by management to tackle concerns raised in an employee survey carried out last year.

Results released in October showed 41 per cent of council staff did not feel valued. A further 61 per cent of employees said they did not have confidence in management decisions. Only half said they felt involved in decisions affecting their work.

The News this week told how city chiefs were to be questioned over whether a “culture of fear” exists at the council.

A motion submitted by Green councillor Maggie Chapman calling for future surveys to probe staff on the causes of dissatisfaction and anxiety was defeated.