Embedding the APS Values: Case studies and other supporting material

Please note: These documents are for reference purposes only and are no longer considered by the APS Commission to be current. They may contain good practice advice and/or advice on the transitional arrangements between the 1922 and 1999 Public Service Acts.

globe Useful references

Case study 26:
Insolvency and Trustee Service Australia:
Consultative arrangements

Background

The Insolvency and Trustee Service Australia (ITSA) aims to provide a participative work environment that encourages employee input and transparent decision making. Active involvement of employees in the introduction of new employment-related policies and change initiatives contributes to successful implementation and improved organisational effectiveness.

ITSA has put in place workplace systems and structures that enable staff to contribute their views and maximise their input to meeting organisational objectives. The current arrangements are based on those successfully adopted during consultation in ITSA's first certified agreement in 1998. They recognise that consultation not only involves providing information to employees, but also includes explaining how decisions have been made and how the views expressed by employees were taken into account. These initiatives underpin effective workplace relations and provide staff with the opportunity for input at all stages of the corporate planning and development process.

Description

The ITSA Certified Agreement 2002-04 (ITSA CA) provides a definition of consultation which includes:

providing relevant information to employees
taking account of employee views
explaining decisions that have been made.

Under the ITSA CA, formal consultation occurs at two levels:

the National Consultative Committee (NCC), which meets twice a year and considers issues such as national policy and practice, and other matters that will impact on all ITSA employees-it comprises the chief executive, the executive director and employee relations manager as employer representatives and a representative from each branch consultative committee (BCC) as employee representatives
BCCs which meet at least four times a year, with the membership determined by each branch, but comprised of management and employee representatives.

Issues considered at BCCs are usually specific to the individual branch. However, BCCs also provide branch input into issues that have national implications and will be considered at the NCC level.

Consultation occurs on all employment-related policy documents developed in ITSA. Policies are issued on an interim basis and are circulated to all employees by e-mail. Employees are encouraged to provide feedback or respond with issues or concerns. They are able to do this:

through their branch representatives on the BCC
through their manager or branch head
directly to the employee relations section.

Employee feedback and comments are collated and responses are documented. This information is circulated to all staff by e-mail and placed on ITSA's intranet. Following this process policy documents may go through several iterations before being finalised.

If significant issues are raised they are discussed at the NCC, otherwise the NCC will formally finalise the consultation process via e-mail.

ITSA ensures that all employees receive regular information on key management decisions. E-mail summaries of national Leadership and Executive Board meetings are issued shortly after each meeting. The minutes of board meetings and related reports are also made available on the intranet.

The use of project teams and cross-branch work groups is encouraged for the development of new initiatives. This increases the opportunity for employees to be involved in the implementation of organisational improvements.

ITSA conducts an employee opinion survey every two years to obtain confidential feedback from employees. The results of the survey are made available to all staff. Action plans are developed to respond to issues highlighted in the surveys. The results of the survey are benchmarked over time to measure how successfully ITSA has addressed organisational issues.

Key APS Value

The APS establishes workplace relations that value communication, consultation, cooperation and input from employees on matters that affect their workplace. (s. 10(1)(i) of the PS Act)

For more information please contact:

SANDRA HAYHOE
PHONE 02 8233 7897
sandra.hayhoe@itsa.gov.au