‘Give us more work’: SA public service survey reveals concerns around bullying, productivity and promotions

Only half of the state’s public servants believe they are as productive as they can be – and even fewer feel safe speaking up. See the key survey findings here.

Only half of South Australia’s public servants believe they are as productive as possible.

And according to a major new survey, less than half are satisfied with their managers; feel safe speaking up about problems; believe they have good career opportunities; and believe promotions are handled fairly.

Many were sceptical that the survey would lead to improvements – just 33 per cent of the 40,000 respondents “believe action will be taken on the results from this survey”.

The findings are among the lowlights of the 2021 “I Work For SA” survey.

Commissioner for Public Employment Erma Ranieri has written to public servants to tell them of the 2021 results.

Ms Ranieri said the results of the survey were mainly positive, with none of the seven groups of problems measured going backwards from the last survey in 2018, and only two having shown no improvement.

Of those who agree that they are as productive as they could be, only 15 per cent “strongly agreed” and 37 per cent “agreed”.

SA Commissioner for Public Sector Employment Erma Ranieri highlighted a decrease in reports of bullying in the 2021 survey.

In her letter on the survey to 109,251 public servants, Ms Ranieri highlighted an 8 per cent drop in witnessed bullying to 29 per cent, and a 4 per cent drop in people being bullied to 17 per cent.

“Even though we heard from more of you than ever, you reported a decrease in both witnessing and experiencing these types of incidents,’’ she said.

Despite only one-third of those surveyed believing anything would be done after they complained, Ms Ranieri said action plans would soon be drafted for each department.

“Only 48 per cent of respondents feel safe to speak up and challenge how things are done,’’ she wrote.

“While some agencies have good news to share and a solid foundation for further gains, the results are more challenging for other agencies.

“They will require a commitment from their people at every level, not just its leaders, to deliver an enhanced employee experience.”

In the worst results for individual departments:

■ 19 per cent of court workers are “satisfied with the opportunities available for career development in my agency”.

■ 23 per cent of court workers feel “senior managers keep employees informed about what’s going on”.

■ 24 per cent of court workers feel “senior managers effectively lead and manage change”.

■ 25 per cent of court workers feel “senior managers provide clear direction for the future of the agency”

■ 28 per cent of court workers feel “In my agency, recruitment and promotion decisions are fair”.

■ 32 per cent of police believe “recruitment and promotion decisions are fair”.

■ 38 per cent of corrections workers agreed that their work “inspires me to do the best work every day” and 35 per cent felt leaders managed change well.

Categories across all departments in which a 50 per cent score were not reached were:

■ 44 per cent – I feel that senior managers effectively lead and manage change.

■ 44 per cent – I am satisfied with the opportunities available for career development in my agency.

■ 45 per cent – In my agency, recruitment and promotion decisions are fair.

■ 45 per cent – I feel that senior managers keep employees informed about what’s going on.

■ 47 per cent – I believe senior managers provide clear direction for the future of the agency.

■ 48 per cent – I think it is safe to speak up and challenge the way things are done in this agency.

■ 49 per cent – I feel that senior managers model the behaviours expected of employees.