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ACC workers ‘anxious and frustrated’ as question mark hangs over hybrid working

ACC workers ‘anxious and frustrated’ as question mark hangs over hybrid working

A leaked internal email suggests ACC is considering forcing staff back into the office, after a culture review found its “hierarchical and siloed structure” was exacerbated by work-from-home policies.

The email, obtained by The Post, was sent to staff by chief executive Megan Main on Wednesday, following the release of a culture review earlier this month.

The review recommended a review of hybrid and remote working policies, which allow some staff to work from home up to three days a weeks, “to build inclusivity/engagement/productivity”.

Main’s email, sent to all staff, was an “update on priority work we’re progressing immediately in response to some of the review’s recommendations”.

“I can commit to coming back with an update on hybrid working settings in the next two weeks,” she said.

“I know many of you are seeking certainty around changes to our hybrid working policy and that there are a broad range of perspectives on this topic across ACC.”

The Post understands some staff are concerned this would lead to a tightening of the policy.

Public Service Association national secretary Fleur Fitzsimons said the email had “gone down like a cup of cold sick” with ACC workers.

She criticised the agency for not working with staff and the union about the approach.

“This has left workers at ACC anxious and frustrated given the importance of flexible work to many who have planned their lives around their existing arrangements.”

It comes as ACC and the PSA head to the Employment Relations Authority on Thursday to settle an industrial dispute.

In 2022, ACC formally introduced an option to most staff to work from home up to three days a week.

The culture review stated that many staff “love the fact that they only have to go into the office two days per week and they highlighted hybrid working as one of the key benefits of working for ACC”.

However, there were also “some strong views expressed by interviewees (especially leaders) about the adverse impact the Hybrid Working Policy has had on staff engagement, team culture, collaboration, connection and training”.

“Some staff even reported that they never go into the office.”

A May internal report showed staff in one team were in the office less than one day a week.

Late last year, ACC reviewed the policy “in light of declining performance and various workplace studies demonstrating the benefit of face-to-face work time (as well as Government announcements that public sector organisations should be working fewer days from home)”.

“However, given this came off the back of the 2024 restructure and appreciating the impact that significant change had on staff, after some debate, the executive team elected to defer a decision on this matter.”

A spokesperson from ACC, asked about potentially pulling back on hybrid working, reiterated the recommendation was to review the policy.

Also in the email, Main said the ACC board had agreed to introduce a new strategy, “to support our back-to-basics approach and focus on rehabilitation performance”, intending to be in place by January next year.

ACC would be reviewing its recruitment practices, “providing training support for anyone involved in hiring, including diversity and inclusion considerations”, to ensure it was “robust, contestable and merit-based”.

It would would also develop a new stand-alone Inappropriate Behaviour policy and reviewing the the way staff could raise concerns.

ACC announced the independent review following a Stuff investigation earlier this year over concerns regarding two deputy chief executives, poor workplace culture and potential conflicts of interest.

Source – https://www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360834268/acc-workers-anxious-and-frustrated-question-mark-hangs-over-hybrid-working

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