lev dolgachov
Environment Southland staff are being verbally intimidated by members of the public by phone, in the council’s reception area, and in the field. (File photo).
Environment Southland staff are being “verbally intimidated'’ on the job, and now councillors are being encouraged to do a risk assessment before engaging in events or council business.
At a meeting of the Organisational Planning and Audit Committee meeting on April 1, general manager organisational development and transformation Amy Kubrycht reported that some staff had been verbally intimidated by members of the public.
Councillors asked about the intimidation, and discussed the fact that they were in the public eye and needed to be aware of the risk of encountering concerned members of the public when they are at events.