Central government agencies with deep pockets are trying to poach Otago Regional Council staff, the council’s chief executive says.
Chief executive Sarah Gardner told councillors this week central government was recruiting strongly and in some circumstances with high salary offerings.
Alongside good pay packets from government agencies, some staff were interested in working nearer family, and some were looking for a lifestyle change and leaving, Mrs Gardner said at this week’s council meeting.
"We are not seeing a huge amount of it, but we are starting to see some shifting," she said.
"I am grateful so far that we have also been able to attract talent and continue to do so."
Mrs Gardner said she believed the council staff’s remuneration was competitive.
However, the council was having a look at the difference between local government and "the market as a whole".
"And we believe there’s about a 3% difference in that."
At present council initiatives to offer wellbeing and flexibility for staff were attractive.
And also recently there had been about a dozen internal appointments across the organisation, or "up".
She said council staff were being poached not only by central government but also the private sector, which was willing to pay more at present.
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And to be fair the management culture is so rotten, why wouldn't they leave? Nepotism is rife and can be seen with recent management appointments
A significant number of staff at ORC with little experience are paid more than $100,000 a year. This is not the problem in retaining or recruiting staff. The problem is the destructive culture of the Executive. Gardener is attempting to divert attention from her humiliation in censuring Councillor Laws. Such total lack of judgement and undermining of democracy and freedom of speech at the ratepayers expense is not befitting for a Chief Executive. She should resign or be dismissed.