47
HUMAN RESOURCES The Human Resources Department looks after all staffing related matters in Sligo County Council e.g. recruitment, training, maintenance of personnel records, industrial relations, payroll, superannuation, time and attendance, etc. It is also responsible for implementing statutory and non-statutory staff welfare policies and procedures and maintains stable industrial relations within the Organisation. The Human Resources Department works to create an equitable, consultative and supportive working environment within Sligo County Council. Due to the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020, many activities within the HR Department were significantly impacted on. Much of the focus of the HR Department was subsequently aimed at addressing issues arising from the Covid-19 crisis. With the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in early 2020, the potential implications for society in general and the organisation in terms of staff and services was becoming increasingly more apparent. At this time a Business Continuity Plan was developed which looked at the critical essential services which the Council would have to maintain in the event of a full-scale pandemic, the staff required to ensure these services could be delivered and what backup would be required in the event of staff absences due to illness etc, the potential risks to delivery of these services and how to address them. This plan provided the Council with a checklist of actions to prepare for the impact of the crisis and to ensure critical services were maintained. As restrictions were elevated, the Council had to make very significant adjustments to the way we work to comply with HSE and Government advices and guidelines on how to conduct business in a way that protected the health and safety of our employees to the greatest extent possible. An in-house Covid-19 Co-ordinating Group was established in March 2020 to identify and oversee actions to maintain safe working environments and to ensure the HSE / Government advices were implemented. This group continues to meet regularly. Covid-19 Compliance Officers were appointed, and a Lead Worker Representative and Worker Representative nominated by the Trade Unions were appointed to work collaboratively with the employer to assist in the implementation of measures and monitor adherence. Complying with social distancing advice represented a major challenge, and the Council succeeded in rapidly rolling out home working capability to the extent that about 80% of office-based staff were working from home at the height of the restrictions. As restrictions began to ease, the Government published Return to Work Safely Protocols in May 2020 to support employers and workers to put measures in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace. The Government’s Roadmap for re-opening Society and Business set out a fivephase framework for re-opening commencing on 18th May 2020. Very significant costs were incurred in adapting workplaces, work practices, public access arrangements, etc, to comply fully with COVID-19 related public health protection measures.
SLIGO COUNTY COUNCIL ANNUAL REPORT 2020
