Northern Beaches Council: Staff allowed to meditate, play board games, learn recipes at work

A Sydney council has been quizzed over its decision to allow staff to meditate, play board games and pot plants during work hours.

A Sydney council has been criticised by one of its own after introducing time for meditation, playing boardgames, pot planting and learning “eating foods off the land” recipes for staff members during working hours.

Northern Beaches independent councillor Vincent De Luca questioned the council over how much the “Thrive, Your Home of Well Being” activities are costing local ratepayers.

Cr De Luca, who has concerns the activities are a waste of money, has lodged a “question with notice’ on the meeting agenda for Tuesday night’s council meeting.

Northern Beaches Council has been asked why staff are playing board games during work hours. Picture: iStock.

He told the Manly Daily ahead of the meeting that he wanted to know details, from senior council management, of the program being offered to some council departments by an external contractor.

As well as asking whether the programs consists of pot planting, meditation, foods off the land recipes and board games for staff members, Cr De Luca also wants details of “how many staff hours are taken away from actual duty and what benefits, if any, have been realised so far?”

Cr De Luca said he had received an anonymous letters from staff complaining about the “Thrive” program keeping them away from their actual jobs.

Northern Beaches Council has been asked why staff are learning how to pot plants during working hours. Picture: Supplied

“I’m seriously concerned, regarding the waste of ratepayers’ money on such an initiative, when there are greater issues involving mental health and wellness.”

Cr De Luca said the were organisations that the council coulfd bring in that could provide direct assistance to staff.

“Council also has a significant bullying and harassment issue among staff and that needs support services across the entire organisation.

“The great disparity from the excessive salary of the executives (compared with) frontline workers also needs to be addressed to increase morale and also recognise the great work of those who serve our community directly.”

Northern Beaches Council has been asked why staff are learning how meditate during working hours. Picture: iStock

Cr De Luca had previously lodged questions about bullying and harassment of council staff.

In written answers to his questions, to be tabled at Tuesday’s council meeting, council management said that in the past six years there had been 12 bullying and harassment claims made by staff.

Two matters were referred to council’s lawyer or external legal advisers and one bullying and harassment complaint was lodged with the Fair Work Commission, but was subsequently withdrawn by the complainant.

A section of the Northern Beaches Council Chambers at Dee Why. A council meeting on Tuesday night that in the past six years there had been 12 bullying and harassment claims made by staff. Picture: Virginia Young

In its answer on bullying and harasment council management said it had an internal procedure for investigating complaints and that the “support provided to an employee during and post an investigation may include access to the employee assistance program, special leave, alternate duties, and changed reporting lines.”

A council spokeswoman said it cannot answer questions about the new wellness program until it had provided officials answers to Mr De Luca questions at the council meeting next month.