The cost of bullying and harassment workshops at the Dunedin City Council put people off going, a disgruntled staff member says.
The staff member, who requested anonymity, made the claim after council organisational development and performance group manager Marian Rillstone denied claims there was a bullying culture in the organisation, in an Otago Daily Times story published last Tuesday.
This comes as the woman contracted to run workshops, Julie Watson from Tap In, said there was "one group'' within the council not operating well, but apart from that the organisation was not unlike others she worked with.
In Tuesday's ODT, Ms Rillstone said the workshops were evidence the council took bullying and harassment seriously.
She said Ms Watson had told her in conversation there was not a bullying or harassment problem and the council was an organisation "like every other, where you have pockets and teams that are challenges and others that are absolutely adorable''.
The staff member who took issue with her comments said the cost of the workshops, listed as $45 per head in an internal email, put council departments off attending.
"For $45 a person, who was going to go?''
Individuals did not need to pay the cost per head, but departments having to complete an internal purchase order requiring managerial approval was a "barrier''.
"If the management team were keen on getting staff at these sessions, they would have just put them on without the individual departments having to pay.''The staff member also took issue with Ms Rillstone's evaluation of staff morale.
"It's patronising and laughable and shows how out of touch the politburo [senior managers] is with the what's going on.''
To repeat the comments made by Ms Watson showed a "complete lack of judgement'' from someone who was in the executive leadership team, the staff member said.
Ms Rillstone replied to questions by text and email on Friday, saying she was surprised at the staff member's comments, as the cost of the workshops, which because of attendance rates came to less than $45 per head, was covered by the council.
The council was unaware of any instances where staff had trouble accessing training through their department.
"The charges are just a matter of how we organise our budgets internally. If any staff are concerned about the charges, I encourage them to raise this with me.''
Ms Watson was surprised her views were referenced in the original ODT story, but on reflection said her view of the organisation was fairly represented and understood why Ms Rillstone had repeated the conversation they had.
Asked if she had told Ms Rillstone the organisation was "like every other'' she said: "I can't categorically say that I didn't say that. There is definitely worse [organisations].''
Asked if the culture at the council was worse than at other places she worked she said, "There is one group of people, but I am not going to name that division, that is not operating well."
Most of the council was "on the good side'' of the ledger compared to other organisations she worked with.
She believed $45 per person for the workshops was good value for money for the three hour sessions she ran, but acknowledged her view was subjective.
