Defence downplays findings of low morale

THE Department of Defence has played down the results of a survey which found workplace morale was low or moderate among more than half of personnel.

The YourSay Organisational Climate survey collects information on issues such as conditions of service, job satisfaction, career management, behaviours in the workplace and work- life balance and was intended for internal decisionmaking.

The results were not presented by location but were broken down into gender and whether respondents were navy, army, air force or civilians employees.

A snapshot of 2016 survey results, requested at a recent Senate estimates hearing, found between just 19 and 42 per cent of ADF employees had a high or very high level of morale in their workplace.

The remainder voted moderate and low or very low.

Morale among female army personnel and civilian employees was the lowest, while male navy personnel rated their workplace morale the highest.

A majority of respondents always or almost always were satisfied and had confidence in their supervisors at 66 per cent to 78 per cent.

However, that confidence slipped to between 33 per cent and 63 per cent when employees were asked if they have confidence in Defence Senior Leadership.

Rates of job satisfaction were at least 60 per cent agree or strongly agree for all personnel, while pride to be an ADF member was at a minimum 72 per cent.

A Department of Defence spokeswoman said the voluntary survey was conducted annually, with the next survey to be administered in September 2018, while 2017 results were yet to be publicly released.

The ADF response rate for the August 2016 YourSay survey was 35 per cent.

The spokeswoman said morale was influenced by many factors, including some work- related, personal and family circumstances.

“Almost three- quarters of ADF personnel reported their workplace morale to be moderate, high, or very high,” she said.

“With regard to leadership, it was shown that more Defence employees hold confidence in their supervisors, managers, and senior leaders than those who do not.”

Herbert MP Cathy O’Toole said the ADF was a pressurised environment and these surveys helped the hierarchy measure their performance.

She said it was an important tool to assess the mental health of people in the workplace.

“It’s not an easy place to be in Defence and these workplace surveys, in general, should be treated with respect and the results used wisely,” she said.