South Lanarkshire Council to axe employee award schemes

Jan 21 2010

COUNCILLORS will decide within the next few weeks whether to axe spending on schemes to honour long-serving and high-achieving staff.

South Lanarkshire Council have over the past five years spent more than £315,000 acknowledging the performance of members of their 16,000-strong workforce who have ‘gone the extra mile’.

However, the cash-strapped council are reviewing employee recognition schemes following the tightening of public service budgets.

And yesterday (Wednesday), the council’s biggest union, UNISON, said they did not think spending on such schemes could be justified in the current financial climate.

Much of the award scheme money has gone on an annual ‘employee of the year’ awards night held at the banqueting suite in the council’s Hamilton headquarters.

During the bash, nominated staff, often accompanied by a guest, receive certificates, gifts and are treated to a three-course meal and free bar alongside senior managers and councillors.

Since 2006, a further £55,000 has been spent on rewarding workers who have reached 25 years’ service.

Cash has also been splashed on engaging celebrity hosts, including TV presenter Kaye Adams, who was hired for the social work awards in August of last year.

The figures for the staff celebrations were obtained under the Freedom of Information Act and show that the spending was - 2004/05: £51,363; 2005/06: £53,057; 2006/07: £65,533: 2007/08: £67,458 and 2008/09: £76,900.

The figures for long service awards, introduced in 2006, were: 2006/07 – £27,792; 2007/08 – £14,578; 2008/09 – £12,332.

A council spokesman said the events were held to “mark the achievements of employees who have achieved externally accredited qualifications or who have been recognised for going the extra mile in doing their job”.

However, the spokesman added: “We are already reviewing all our activities, including employee recognition events, to ensure they represent value for money.”

Stephen Smellie, branch secretary of South Lanarkshire UNISON, said: “While in the past we have been in support of these events in terms of recognising the achievements of people who have gained qualifications, we don’t think we can justify spending that kind of money in the future.

“We don’t need a three-course meal or free drink or Kaye Adams.

“There are plenty of people in the council who could act as compere.”

The union’s views on the matter were conveyed to councillors during discussions about the forthcoming budget.

Central Scotland Tory MSP Margaret Mitchell said it was right that the council recognised the service given by employees who had worked there for 25 years.

She added, however: “There is no justification for holding at council tax-payers’ expense schemes designed to motivate staff or give them a pat on the back.

“You would hope management procedures would have that built in.”