Consultants hired to review the Department of Social Protection (DSP) have brought attention to concerns employees have about the "scruffy" appearance of their colleagues, and a reluctance to tackle underperformance.
Axiom Consulting Partners, who were paid €99,750 to review the culture and values of the Government's largest department, said many staff reported "a general absence of personal accountability"
A staff dress code “merits investigation”, the report states. “There is only a vague dress code in DSP and many members of staff are concerned that the lack of a consistent and appropriate dress code creates an unprofessional image and sets the wrong tone for engaging clients, employers and other external stakeholders.”
Some members of staff “describe their colleagues’ appearance as ‘scruffy’ and question the impact this has on their personal sense of professionalism and pride”.
‘Breaking point’
The consultants interviewed key figures in several other Government departments and Revenue and reported that a recurring theme was that “ DSP operations might be at breaking point”.
The report found a “lack of consequence for either good or poor performance.”
Anecdotal evidence “seems to suggest that ‘problem members of staff’ are moved from one area to another to minimise their impact and share the burden, rather than underlying issues being addressed directly”.
Senior management grades “are seen as under enormous pressure from all sides”.
“They themselves feel isolated and believe they do not have the tools or the power associated with typical line manager responsibilities”, the report says.
On the positive side, the report found that DSP staff take pride in the work they do; are incredibly conscious of their duty to tax-payers and citizens and that work is often very rewarding on a personal level.
A spokeswoman for the DSP said the department had identified a number of core values held across the department and “the aim is to ensure that the work of the department and its staff adhere to these values”.
