In 2021 the States Employment Board (SEB) dealt with many outstanding recommendations from the Comptroller and Auditor General, launched a new People Strategy in collaboration with around 400 employees, and simplified the organisation’s people management policies.
A new management training programme was introduced which trained 138 colleagues in 2021, and the results of the 2020 BeHeard staff survey have resulted in a focus on wellbeing, leadership development and corporate volunteering.
SEB welcomed the work of Team Jersey to embed the Government of Jersey’s values and behaviours framework. Many of the sessions, which were held online in 2021, were aiming to build positive relationships and to encourage a balance of supportive and challenging behaviours within teams. The Team Jersey programme is now being led by an in-house team who will run sessions as part of the organisation’s business-as-usual.
Assistant Chief Minister, Richard Buchanan, said: “I am pleased that we have made progress on implementing the recommendations of the Comptroller and Auditor General, and on embedding diversity, equality and inclusion into government. We have introduced several new employee-led networks* so the voices of employees with different experiences can be heard.
“The SEB would like to thank employees for their hard work and dedication throughout 2021. They were facing particularly difficult circumstances during the pandemic, and we are fortunate to have so many dedicated and skilled people working for us.
“There are many unsung heroes who work every day to make a difference for Islanders and often they do not receive the recognition or the praise they deserve.
“We want to be an employer of choice that delivers equal opportunities and protection against discrimination to our people. We will continue publishing our Gender Pay Gap report and will work alongside the Jersey Appointments Commission to tackle both the pay gap and the under-representation of women in senior roles.”
Background
The States Employment Board’s functions are wide ranging, and cover employment, pay, health and safety, the organisation of States employees, instructing and responding on relevant legal matters.
SEB employs all public employees in Jersey and is responsible for setting employees' terms and conditions of service.
The Board is chaired by the Chief Minister (or a nominee) and brings together two States Members who are Ministers or Assistant Ministers, and two States Members who are nominated by the States Assembly and are not part of the Government.
This report provides information about the work of the SEB from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021.
*Employee-led networks encompass issues like neurodiversity, LGBTQ+, menopause and BAME.