News Flash

SURVEY SHOWS IMPACT OF JOB CUTS

The PSA commissioned independent research from the University of Sydney's Workplace Research Centre to identify the impact of Government job cuts.

The University survey received over 3,000 submissions from PSA members.

Key findings of the survey include:

• Many areas of service provision seem to be stressed to breaking point

• The effects of cut backs include longer queues, delays in processing, inadequately trained staff, reductions in the quality of services, and staff dissatisfaction with resultant quality of service delivery

• Front line services have been affected, with 70% of respondents spending time on administrative tasks at expense of front line duties

• No clear distinction exists between back office and front line roles, resulting in virtually all jobs being affected by cuts

• Large amounts of unpaid overtime are being worked, with 53% of respondents working between an extra 3 to 10 hours per week
  
  Releasing the Report, PSA General Secretary Jan McMahon said "It is evident that front line workers are having to spend significant time undertaking administration work and that Public Sector employees are working large amounts of unpaid overtime."
  
  The contribution by members to the survey is acknowledged and appreciated.
  
  The Report "Staffing cutbacks in the South Australian public sector and their likely effects" is available here.

12 February 2010