High staff turnover and difficulty recruiting at Oxford City Council could affect staff morale, wellbeing and absence and ultimately impact service delivery, a report has found.
According to the council's workforce sustainability progress report, staff turnover increased to 15% last year, while absence is above target levels – with 27% due to stress, anxiety and depression.
The issues pose a ‘significant risk’ to the city council, the report says. The authority aspires to have a ‘smaller and better paid’ workforce.
The report lists factors for increasing staff turnover, including higher pay elsewhere; the pressure of work due to increased demand, particularly from front-line services; and the council’s ‘ambitious’ corporate and service plans.
Oxford is also struggling to recruit to some posts, including surveyors, lawyers and environmental health officers. Career development pathways have been introduced for these roles.
The council has also agreed a local two-year pay deal with unions, run a leadership and development programme, set up a wellbeing at work week and launched ‘more proactive’ recruitment campaigns.
