A ‘‘CULTURE of entitlement’’ among public servants and poor management systems helped push the state service’s personal leave bill out to $68 million a year, the Auditor-General has found.
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Auditor-General Mike Blake studied THO South, TasTAFE and the departments of justice, education, police and emergency management, and found the direct costs of sick and carer’s leave were increasing.
‘‘The overall results of the audit support widely held concerns that personal leave is both a significant cost and an area that is inconsistently- and under-managed across the state service,’’ Mr Blake said.
‘‘It is also an area which is understood to be impacted by an ‘entitlement’ culture, which has apparently developed over a significant period of time.’’
Mr Blake found the total direct cost of personal leave to be $68 million in 2013-14, a figure that has risen by $19 million in five years.
He recommended the government make reducing the overall costs and instances of personal leave a key performance indicator, and for more reporting and monitoring of leave levels.
Mr Blake said even a small percentage improvement in the area would result in savings and better productivity.
Opposition Leader Bryan Green said the state government’s recent cuts to the public service would put the workforce under greater stress.
‘‘You only have to ask public servants how they’re feeling at the moment – most of them feel as though their morale is at rock bottom,’’ Mr Green said.
Premier Will Hodgman pointed out the period audited was largely a time in which Labor was in government.
Mr Hodgman said he believed there was a good work ethic within the public service.
‘‘I believe fundamentally and inherently it is a very productive place, but that’s not to say there can’t be improvements,’’ Mr Hodgman said.
Community and Public Sector Union state secretary Tom Lynch said the costs of leave were no higher than other jurisdictions, but supported measures to improve its management.
‘‘The union would like to see a much greater focus on getting workers back to productive work following an illness or injury even if that means performing suitable alternate duties for a period,’’ Mr Lynch said.