Bureaucrats not enjoying working life – survey

Fewer than 10 per cent of staff at the Internal Affairs Department – including those who work for ministers – say they feel committed and prepared to go the extra mile, a leaked survey shows.

In what was yesterday described as further evidence of a crisis of morale among public servants, the survey of 2800 employees revealed more than a third felt ‘‘disengaged’’ and another 56 per cent felt ambivalent.

Only 9.3 per cent said they were ‘‘engaged’’.

Labour spokeswoman Ruth Dyson said the April survey, which comes on top of reports of negative staff sentiment at foreign affairs, defence and other state agencies, showed a public service ‘‘morale crisis’’ made worse by constant restructuring.

‘‘Around 85 per cent of staff completed the survey, which sounds like the most engagement they had with their job, given the result.’’

Even Ministerial Services reported only 14.3 per cent en- gaged, with 25 per cent feeling disengaged.

In a leaked email, then-acting DIA chief executive Peter Mersi said the outcome was poor compared to other state sector agencies and large organisations.

‘‘I am confident that in terms of the department’s engagement profile the only way is up,’’ he said.

Staff had faced a range of changes, including integration, meeting the Government’s savings targets and a new minister and chief executive.

Meanwhile, a Westpac McDermott Miller employment survey released yesterday showed government workers were gloomier about their job security than at any time in the measure’s six-year history.