The City of Cockburn's response to the Cockburn Gazette on 3 April 2020, about staffing at the City during COVID-19 -
Question: How many full-time and part-time staff members have been stood down in response to the COVID-19 crisis? If none, do you envision a scenario where the City may be forced to in the near future?
Answer: No employees have been stood down on no pay. The City is not planning on any significant changes to its staffing for next year’s budget at this stage, however, this will be subject to the duration of the pandemic restrictions and closures. The City is heeding the Premier’s advice to not stand down staff and look to redeploy and keep people employed delivering outcomes for the community.
Question: To clarify, where it says "No employees have been stood down on no pay", does that mean some employees have been stood down with pay?
If not stood down, does that mean some have been reassigned (ie leisure centre staff where the ARC is closed)?
Answer: All staff from several facilities closed by the City (Cockburn ARC, libraries, Seniors Centre, Youth Centre etc.) are either working from home, redeployed to other work areas, undertaking online training & development or still working on premises completing essential services.
Question: How did the City decide which staff should be stood down?
Answer: See previous answer.
Question: Has the City estimated how much revenue it expects to lose from the closure of facilities?
Answer: The City has a clear understanding of the potential gross revenue loss from revenue generating facilities (e.g. Cockburn ARC). However, it is looking to mitigate losses in part through expense reduction strategies and redeployment of staff resources to other service areas within the City. The period of forced closure will ultimately determine the extent of losses, which is outside the control of the City.
Question: Is there anything else you would like to add?
Answer: All staff continue to be employed and paid by the City. This includes all full time and part-time permanent staff, as well as all casuals. All staff continue to be utilised by the City in some capacity (i.e. work from home, on premises, redeployment or undertaking online training & development). The City continues to progressively redeploy displaced staff to needed service areas.
Over 90 per cent of our office based staff are now working from home, while our outdoor crews continue to work as usual (practicing the appropriate physical distancing).
The City of Cockburn's response to The West Australian on 1 April 2020, about staffing at the City during COVID-19 -
Question: What is the current staffing situation at the local government?
Answer: Over 90 per cent of our office based staff are now working from home, while our outdoor crews continue to work as usual (practicing the appropriate physical distancing).
Question: How many people are working from home?
Answer: Over 90 per cent of office based staff and those from closed facilities.
Question: How many people are still at work?
Answer: Under 10 per cent of office based staff and all outdoor crews.
Question: How many people have been stood down?
Answer: All staff from several facilities closed by the City (Cockburn ARC, libraries, Seniors Centre, Youth Centre etc.) are either working from home, redeployed to other work areas, undertaking online training & development or still working on premises completing essential services. No employees have been stood down on no pay.
Question: How many of those stood down are still employed by the local government?
Answer: All staff continue to be employed and paid by the City. This includes all full time and part-time permanent staff, as well as all casuals. All staff continue to be utilised by the City in some capacity (i.e. work from home, on premises, redeployment or undertaking online training & development). The City continues to progressively redeploy displaced staff to needed service areas.
Question: Have any been made completely redundant?
Answer: No.
Question: Is anyone who has been stood down but still employed still getting their full payments? (We have heard of councils where staff have been sent home and are not doing any work but are still getting their full payments.)
Answer: See previous answers.
Question: Will the local government be looking to access JobKeeper payments? If so, for how many staff?
Answer: The City has registered for the scheme in particular for Cockburn ARC, where all revenue has ceased. However, it is unclear at this stage whether the City will be eligible.
Question: Have any casual or part-time staff been let go or not given shifts? If so how many?
Answer: See previous answers.
Question: How are changes to staffing expected to impact the upcoming budget in terms of employee costs?
Answer: The City is not planning on any significant changes to its staffing for next year’s budget at this stage, however, this will be subject to the duration of the pandemic restrictions and closures. The City is heeding the Premier’s advice to not stand down staff and look to redeploy and keep people employed delivering outcomes for the community.