Decentralisation and a plan to cut staff have been blamed by FÁS for a decline in morale highlighted in a major survey of its employees.
Only 41 per cent of staff said the State training and jobs agency had a culture that valued and respected its employees, in the survey carried out by the Hay Group consultancy firm.
Even fewer - 30 per cent - said they believed promotions were conducted in a fair and open manner, while just 19 per cent said the agency's matrix management structure was effective.
Morale, trust and partnership were identified by the consultants as the three areas in which there had been the biggest decline in terms of staff perceptions since a similar survey was conducted two years ago.
In a response yesterday, FÁS said such "climate surveys" were conducted to encourage a culture of inclusiveness and consensus in decision-making.
"We prompted and encouraged staff to comment in a free and open manner on matters which they wished to have changed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the organisation," it said, in a statement to The Irish Times.
It said the overall results were positive and compared favourably with other organisations.
The possible reasons for the decline in morale and trust, FÁS said, were that in 2003 the agency had been instructed to reduce staffing levels by 150 and to decentralise its head office to Birr, Co Offaly. It had agreed to implement Government policy in both these areas, it said.
Mr Greg Ennis, SIPTU's FÁS branch secretary, also cited decentralisation as a major factor in declining staff morale.
He said 96 per cent of the agency's headquarters staff did not wish to move out of Dublin and "a lot of damage" had been done to the climate within FÁS.
While SIPTU was concerned at the decline in morale, he said the climate within FÁS was not out of line with that in other organisations.In one of the the most positive responses, 82 per cent said they were happy to put in "the extra effort" when required, although this was down from 96 per cent two years ago.
