By the Numbers – A third of public servants have witnessed misconduct in the workplace.
A third of public servants have witnessed misconduct in the workplace, ranging from lying on timesheets to sexual harassment, theft and abuse.
But only half of them reported it – which a survey commissioned by the State Services Commission says was due largely to mistrust of managers.
The report, by the United States Ethics Resource Center, says public servants reported high levels of dissatisfaction with how complaints were processed – believing they were covered up or ignored.
It recommends that senior managers “walk the walk and talk the talk” on integrity and conduct.
The Ethics Resource Center surveyed 4642 public servants from 38 agencies for its report. Of the third who had observed misconduct, 18 per cent believed those responsible were breaking the law.
Abusive or intimidating behaviour was the most common complaint, followed by improper Internet or e-mail use, and lying.
Staff reported age, gender and ethnicity discrimination, sexual harassment, alterations to documents, accepting inappropriate payments or perks, theft, and falsifying records…
The report was completed in August – when the public service was reeling over the Madeleine Setchell affair – but only made publicyesterday. It was commissioned as part of continued monitoringof levels of integrity and good conduct.
Ms Setchell was hired and then fired from a key Environment Ministry role after the Environment Minister at the time, David Benson-Pope, objected to working with her because her partner was a senior National Party aide.
What followed was a series of half-truths or forgetfulness by the minister, chief executive Hugh Logan and Dr Prebble.
Mr Benson-Pope was eventually sacked from Cabinet. An independent inquiry into the state sector’s handling of the issue, including Dr Prebble’s role, is nearly complete. Its findings should be made public in the next few weeks.
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