Council supporting staff and community in pandemic

East Gippsland Shire Council has worked proactively to support its staff and the community since pandemic restrictions were implemented.

It’s certainly not business as usual, and we have needed to find new or different ways of working to comply with stage three restrictions. This includes meeting virtually, working remotely, and putting additional measures in place for the health and wellbeing of our staff and community.

Council needs to continue to provide a range of essential services to the community, has important advocacy work action, bushfire recovery support, infrastructure renewal and planning, reporting requirements to government, and must plan and budget. We are fortunate that the majority of this work can continue during the pandemic restrictions and this work supports our community now and when restrictions are lifted.

We have a large and diverse workforce (permanent full and part-time and casual) and many of our staff are performing essential work during the pandemic. However, due to social distancing restrictions, some of council’s closed sites include the Forge Theatre, indoor recreation centres, customer service centres, and caravan parks.

We have been very clear with all staff that where services have been closed or changed that we would identify alternate duties or redeployment opportunities wherever possible. No permanent staff have been stood down during the COVID-19 restrictions. Casual staff who normally work in closed sites have the option of taking special COVID-19 leave (10 days pro rata) or going on an alternative duties list. Council and Council staff are not eligible for the JobKeeker support payments.

Council has 21 staff working on alternative duties. These staff are a mix of permanent and casual staff from sites that have been closed. We are also finalising alternate duties for further staff. Being able to continue to provide meaningful employment, with community benefit, is important not only for our staff but the local economy.

We have a range of areas that have been able to identify opportunities for staff to undertake alternate duties, including administration support, economic development, environmental support, our works crews.

Some of the duties include footpath inspections, painting assets, maintenance, stocktakes, cleaning, bushfire recovery, and bin audits.

At any one time, over one third of our permanent staff are working remotely from home. This has been possible due to our well planned business continuity measures and having suitable technology in place to support working from home. Working remotely comes with challenges and opportunities and we are supporting our staff through this time, including with how they juggle other life demands such as home schooling.

Council is also working with other organisations to see what opportunities are available for our staff at this time.

- Anthony Basford, Chief Executive Officer