A TASNETWORKS staff survey has found more than 70 per cent of staff agree there is a subtle culture of bullying - driven by management - within the company. In a survey that has seen more than 250 responses received from all levels of staff and their families, union and non-union members, across all sites around Tasmania, 42.74 per cent ‘agree’ there is a subtle bullying culture within TasNetworks driven by senior management and 26.61 ‘strongly agree’. When they were asked how they would best describe morale at work, a total of 78 per cent of staff responded it was either ‘poor’ (40.89 per cent) or ‘extremely poor’ (37.25 per cent). A TasNetworks spokesman said chief executive Lance Balcombe sent an email to all staff in the past week, reiterating that their safety was important. The survey, compiled by the Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union (CEPU) and Professionals Australia (PA), came on the back of a leaked anonymously written letter, provided to The Examiner, from an employee’s partner addressed to Mr Balcombe. The letter raised serious concerns about issues such as poor management of staff, intimidation, long on-call periods and limited breaks, that led to stress and the potential for someone to take their life. TasNetworks alerted the CEPU to the letter. Professionals Australia’s Luke Crowley said the results clearly show there is widespread issues of low morale and bullying. ‘‘These results are of significant concern to the unions, any illusion that morale issues at TasNetworks are isolated and contained to a single site or work group are clearly incorrect,’’ Mr Crowley said. The CEPU’s Todd Lambert said a partner survey found 87.80 per cent were concerned that TasNetworks was not going in the right direction to correct any concerns around morale. Mr Balcombe did not respond to direct questions about the survey results on morale or a subtle culture of bullying driven by management. In Mr Balcombe’s statement to staff he wrote, ‘‘... we know safety is important to all team members us all (sic.) as highlighted in our Engagement survey.’’ ‘‘‘I work in a safe and healthy environment’ is the biggest positive driver of engagement within TasNetworks. ‘‘I can assure you that we intend to work hard so that health and safety remains our top priority and at the top of our positive engagement measures year on year.’’ The TasNetworks spokesman said they continue to engage team members through regular meetings and listening sessions. ‘‘Team members are encouraged to speak directly with their leader if they have any issues at any time,’’ he said. ‘‘We continue to remind our people of TasNetworks’ confidential EAP (Employee Assistance Program) and that this service is available to team members and family members.’’
A TASNETWORKS staff survey has found more than 70 per cent of staff agree there is a subtle culture of bullying - driven by management - within the company.
A TASNETWORKS staff survey has found more than 70 per cent of staff agree there is a subtle culture of bullying - driven by management - within the company.
In a survey that has seen more than 250 responses received from all levels of staff and their families, union and non-union members, across all sites around Tasmania, 42.74 per cent ‘agree’ there is a subtle bullying culture within TasNetworks driven by senior management and 26.61 ‘strongly agree’.
When they were asked how they would best describe morale at work, a total of 78 per cent of staff responded it was either ‘poor’ (40.89 per cent) or ‘extremely poor’ (37.25 per cent).
A TasNetworks spokesman said chief executive Lance Balcombe sent an email to all staff in the past week, reiterating that their safety was important.
The survey, compiled by the Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union (CEPU) and Professionals Australia (PA), came on the back of a leaked anonymously written letter, provided to The Examiner, from an employee’s partner addressed to Mr Balcombe.
The letter raised serious concerns about issues such as poor management of staff, intimidation, long on-call periods and limited breaks, that led to stress and the potential for someone to take their life.
TasNetworks alerted the CEPU to the letter.
Professionals Australia’s Luke Crowley said the results clearly show there is widespread issues of low morale and bullying.
‘‘These results are of significant concern to the unions, any illusion that morale issues at TasNetworks are isolated and contained to a single site or work group are clearly incorrect,’’ Mr Crowley said.
The CEPU’s Todd Lambert said a partner survey found 87.80 per cent were concerned that TasNetworks was not going in the right direction to correct any concerns around morale.
Mr Balcombe did not respond to direct questions about the survey results on morale or a subtle culture of bullying driven by management.
In Mr Balcombe’s statement to staff he wrote, ‘‘... we know safety is important to all team members us all (sic.) as highlighted in our Engagement survey.’’
‘‘‘I work in a safe and healthy environment’ is the biggest positive driver of engagement within TasNetworks.
‘‘I can assure you that we intend to work hard so that health and safety remains our top priority and at the top of our positive engagement measures year on year.’’
The TasNetworks spokesman said they continue to engage team members through regular meetings and listening sessions.
‘‘Team members are encouraged to speak directly with their leader if they have any issues at any time,’’ he said.
‘‘We continue to remind our people of TasNetworks’ confidential EAP (Employee Assistance Program) and that this service is available to team members and family members.’’
