Staff working at the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator are generally happier with their managers than they were a year ago but less happy with their overall treatment at work, according to the latest Civil Service People Survey.
The survey polls staff on their attitudes to a variety of work-related issues in order to establish how happy and fulfilled they feel at work. Topics range from their relationships with their managers, their views of the organisation’s leadership, pay and benefits, workload, and learning and development.
Some 96 per cent of OSCR staff took part in the survey.
The overall ‘engagement index’, which combines all the scores, fell by 1 percentage point since last year to 59 per cent. But answers to specific questions ranged much wider.
Attitudes to ‘my manager’ improved markedly since last year. At 66 per cent, the overall score was up by nine points, but even higher scores were recorded against ‘I receive regular feedback’ and ‘My manager recognises when I have done my job well’. Also scoring highly were: ‘My manager helps me to understand how I contribute to OSCR’s objectives’ and ‘My manager motivates me to be more effective at my job’.
However, respondents were less positive than last year about how they are treated at work. The overall engagement score on this theme was 65 per cent, 11 points lower than last year. The biggest drop was recorded against the statement ‘I am treated fairly at work’, with a score 17 points lower than in 2013. ‘I am treated with respect by the people I work with’ also scored 12 points lower.
While the overall engagement score for ‘my team’ was 75 per cent, this was down four points on 2013, and the biggest drop, at 15 points, came in answer to: ‘The people in my team are encouraged to come up with new and better ways of doing things.’
Scores against ‘leadership and managing change’ were a mixed bag. Responses to ‘I believe that the board has a clear vision for the future of OSCR’ improved by 10 points to 41 per cent, but only 22 per cent agreed that ‘When changes are made in OSCR they are usually for the better’, 10 points lower than last year.
‘I have the opportunity to contribute my views before decisions are made that affect me’ scored 30 per cent, down 17 points since 2013.
However, staff were generally happy with their lives – the overall ‘satisfied with life’ score was 71 per cent, up seven points since 12 months ago.
OSCR’s chief executive, David Robb, said: "Staff morale and well-being are extremely important to us, and the survey helps us to identify our strengths and areas for improvement."
