Legislative Council, Tuesday 31 October 2023

Ms FORREST question to LEADER of the GOVERNMENT in the LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Mrs HISCUTT

(1) With regard to worker related matters at TasPorts:

(a) Over the last six (6) years please provide numbers of staff resignation by employment level/title for each of the years including year to date;

(b) (i) Are exit interviews undertaken for every resignation; and
     (ii) if not, why not; and
     (iii) if exit interviews are undertaken, for those that were undertaken what feedback was provided as to reasons for the resignation?

(c) Over the last six (6) years please provide:
     (i) numbers of staff terminations by employment level/title for each of the years including year to date;
    (ii) how much has been paid out in each year for termination payments for each terminated employee; and
     (iii) how much have the associated legal costs been related to each termination payments for each terminated employee by year;

(d) Over the last six (6) years please provide numbers of staff who have been on stress related sick leave by employment level/title for each of the years including year to date;

(e) Over the last six (6) years please provide numbers of staff who have been on ‘gardening leave’ as referred to in relevant documentation related to the leave, by employment level/title for each of the years including year to date;

(f) Over the last six (6) years please provide numbers of staff who have been offered redundancies, by employment level/title for each of the years including year to date;

(g) (i) How many positions across TasPorts are currently vacant; and
    (ii) what are there positions, including level of position?

(2) With regard to the management of conflicts of interest;
     (a) How are conflicts of interest related to staff appointments managed by TasPorts in broad terms; and
     (b) how are conflicts of interest related to staff appointments managed at the Devonport Airport?

(3) With regard to staff satisfaction surveys;
    (a) when over the last six (6) years have staff satisfaction surveys been undertaken;
    (b) have all staff been invited to participate;
    (c) what was the response rate for each survey; and
    (d) what were the main themes that emerged from the surveys each time one was undertaken?

(4) With regard to customer feedback and/or satisfaction surveys;
    (a) when over the last six (6) years have customer feedback and/or satisfaction surveys been undertaken;
    (b) which customers been invited to participate;
    (c) what was the response rate for each survey; and
    (d) what were the main themes that emerged from the surveys each time one was undertaken?

ANSWERS:

Q1.

a) Noting some of this data has been made available via previous Scrutiny sessions, see Appendix One – TasPorts Resignations.

b)
i. All employees are requested to take part in an exit interview, either online or in person with TasPorts’ People and Culture Team.
ii. N/A
iii. Not all employees have chosen to take part in exit interviews. While TasPorts encourages feedback, it is not mandatory. Common themes for resignation include (but are not limited to): higher salary; career advancement; more interesting work; more convenient location; and better work life balance. Some employees selected more than one category.

c)
i. See Appendix Two – TasPorts Terminations.
ii. See Appendix Three – TasPorts Termination Payments.
iii. We are unable to quantify associated legal costs because not all terminations required external legal advice. Further, TasPorts retains its own internal legal team which provides advice to the business as required, including on industrial matters. External legal consultation occurs as needed.

d) Stress-related sick leave is not captured or reported as an independent line item. Employees do not generally disclose reasons for taking personal leave (which covers sick, and carers leave).

e) See Appendix Four – TasPorts Leave.

f) See Appendix Five – TasPorts Redundancies.

g) See Appendix Six – TasPorts Current Positions Vacant noting the number of vacancies listed does not reflect the status of positions being recruited for.

Q2.

a) Conflicts of interest are managed by TasPorts’ Conflict of Interest Policy. If a situation arises where there is a conflict of interest between the performance of a role or duty with TasPorts and a private or personal interest (including a perceived or potential conflict), an employee/worker is required to report the conflict by completing the Disclosure of a Conflict of Interest Form and discussing the conflict of interest with their manager. The matter is then reviewed, and steps or processes agreed and completed to avoid or manage the conflict including noting on the Conflict of Interest Register maintained by the Company Secretary. A record of the disclosure will also be retained on the person’s HR file.

b) As above.

Q3.

a) Two staff surveys were conducted.
• A TasPorts People Culture Survey was conducted in July 2020.
• A TasPorts ‘Pulse’ (People Engagement Survey) was conducted in 2023 – this was the first of a new bi-annual survey with the second to be conducted within coming months.

b) In both surveys all staff were invited to participate.

c) The 2020 survey reported a 73% participation rate and the 2023 survey reported a 72% participation rate.

d) Key themes from the 2020 survey: most favourable – distribution of influence, empowerment, goal clarity and goal acceptance; and least favourable – positive reinforcement and total influence (average amount of influence across all organisational levels). Key themes from the 2023 survey were: most favourable - 80% of respondents strongly believed in the vision of the business, 82% believed it’s important the workforce reflects the diversity of our stakeholders, customers and community, and 80% believed their Leader displays high standards of ethical behaviour; and least favourable – the business must address its capacity to move fast and for decisions to be made quickly, and to be more effective responding to the changing needs of customer.

Q4.

a) The most recent formal customer survey was undertaken in November 2022. Prior to this, customer feedback was obtained informally by way of direct customer relationship management.

b) In November 2022 a total of 30 customers representative from across the board were selected and contacted to participate in a formal customer feedback survey.

c) A total of 26 responses were received.

d) The main feedback related to ‘communication with the business’ noting that each advice received is being followed up individually with each business.

 APPENDICES:

 Appendix_One_Resignations.pdf

Appendix_Two_Terminations.pdf

Appendix_Three_Payments.pdf

Appendix_Four_Leave.pdf

Appendix_Five_Redundancies.pdf

Appendix_Six_Vacancies.pdf