Frequently asked questions about human resources

Find out answers to the most common questions we get asked about our human resources department.

Contracts

How many staff have been employed on relief contracts?

2016/17 - 492
2015/16 - 491
2014/15 - 395
2016/17 - 30

Total amount paid - £221,054.33

Sections include:

Cultural services
Corporate building services
Highways and transportation
Waste management
Economic regeneration and planning
Education
Social services
Resources

Reasons include:

Inappropriate conduct in the workplace
Criminal conduct outside the workplace
Inappropriate comments on social media
Failure to follow policies and procedures
Alleged theft

Disciplinary cases

What was the total number of council employees suspended on full pay and the total amount they were paid? What was the reason for suspension in each case?

	Sections include	Reasons include
2015/16 11 employees suspended Total amount paid - £198,724.85	Highways and transportation Waste management Social services Poverty and prevention Corporate building services	Criminal conduct out of workplace Falsification of records Alleged theft Breach of internet social network and telephone policy Inappropriate comments on social media Wilful and deliberate failure to adhere to policies and codes of conduct of the council
2014/15 18 employees suspended Total amount paid - £345,620	Highways and transport Place Social services Education	Breach of trust and confidence Serious or deliberate misuse of the council's information including deliberate disclosure for personal benefit Failure to adhere to policies and procedures of council Breach of Data Protection Act Deliberate misuse of internet policy Serious breach of health and safety at work Behaviour in the work place Theft Under the influence of alcohol Inappropriate use of social media
2013/14 21 employees suspended Total amount paid - £208,271	Corporate service Place Social services Education	Misappropriation of council money/falsification of time sheets/inappropriate comments on social media Unprofessional behaviour whilst on duty Fraudulent claim for hours not worked Criminal conduct outside the workplace Theft Inappropriate behaviour in workplace Under the influence of alcohol Failure to follow reasonable instruction

How many suspended employees subsequently returned?

2016/17 - 9
2015/16 - 2
2014/15 - 9
2013/14 - 6

It should be noted that suspension is not deemed as a disciplinary sanction and employees are not suspended as a matter of course. Due consideration of the necessity to suspend is taken and reviewed throughout the process to ensure that there is a continued need for suspension. Suspension is always considered as a last resort and handled with tact and sensitivity. If no purpose would be served in suspending the employee, then suspension will not be appropriate. An employee who is suspended will receive his /her normal / average pay. It will be unusual to suspend an employee who is unfit for work at the time suspension is considered. In circumstances where an employee is suspended whilst receiving less than full pay (or no pay) under the terms of his/her contract of employment, the reduced level of payment will be paid during the period of suspension.

Pensions

Information about pensions and fund investments can be found at: http://www.swanseapensionfund.org.uk/investment-and-fund/annual-report-accounts/

Recruitment

How many such staff were appointed during the following periods?

2016/17 - 750
2015/16 - 544
2014/15 - 459
2013/14 - 748

How much has the council spent on the external advertising of job vacancies during the following periods?

2016/17 - £31,596
2015/16 - £34,006
2014/15 - £36,187
2013/14 - £99,321

Salaries

Details of salaries can be found in the pay policy: available on Council policy search

Council policies relating to pay can be found in the Council policy search

Sick leave

How many working days were lost to staff sickness? What were the main 3 reasons given as reasons for sickness?

2016/17
83,487.50 - top 3 reasons include stress, hospitalisation, stomach complaints

253 staff had been off sick for 3 months to 6 months
90 staff had been off sick for 6 months to 12 months
5 staff had been off sick for more than 12 months

2015/16
81,421.00 - top 3 reasons include stress, hospitalisation, stomach complaints

216 staff had been off sick for 3 months to 6 months
99 staff had been off sick for 6 months to 12 months
11 staff had been off sick for more than 12 months

Staff/senior staff

How many staff are employed by the council?

As at end September 2017 - total of 11,044

Non schools - 6499
Schools - 4545

The structure of the leadership team of the council: Who are we and what do we do

Schools

How many days lost to ill health? How many staff retired? How many staff have been dismissed?

Year	Days lost to ill health	Number of staff retired	Number of staff dismissed
2016/17	29036.75	71	11
2015/16	27663	85	12
2014/15	31297.25	33	2
2013/14	33610.15	18	2
2012/13	32700.4	38	4
2011/12	32872.8	26	16
2010/11	34843.5	44	2