Every worker at Barnsley Council is being given vouchers to spend on eating out at the new Market Kitchen in the town centre or with traders at the town centre market and those which operate in districts like Hoyland, Penistone and Goldthorpe. The perk – worth £20 each – is designed to help support the market and reward staff who have worked hard during the coronavirus crisis. The council say it will put £64,000 into the local economy, though that is funded by local taxpayers. The decision to spend the money was made by the council leadership team.
Staff that didn't work due to isolating received £20 vouchers also, agency workers who basically kept the council going got nothing as well as earning less than those sat at home.
So when 75% of the bin men were off, who do you think they got to empty your bin for 5 months? fairies?
Th ere’s a difference between that and keeping the Council going, I work in the Public sector so am well aware of what happened during lockdown. Incidentally, that’s why Agencies exist, to fill in, that’s not saying they shouldn’t treated the same. I got a 1 hour per week flexi credit for working throughout. Hardly breaking the bank
Think it's a really good gesture and will put.money in local businesses pockets. On the flip side I've got to agree that agency staff in local and national government have been treated poorly. I know of a case where an agency member's husband died and the agency wouldn't acknowledge it. They expected her to work whilst organising a funeral and told her she needed to use holidays to bury him. She works for the same organisation as me, 4 years with a break of a month. Caring employers my arse!
Bloody hell that's good we've been told to try and limit our hours, bit hard with no staff and PACE clock ticking.
Agencies, like Zero hours contracts hours Should be a means to an end and be beneficial to those who use them, but have now crept in as a vehicle to mainstream and employment and largely benefit the employer only
Depends how you look at it, we were down to 40% staffing levels, and many of us were ‘loaned out’ to frontline benefits to help with the incredible demand
Arrgggh I've heard about that, I'm a TU rep and I've seen the local reports from other departments. HMRC and DWP both hammered I see from GEC local reports.
Perhaps they can go cap in hand to the Tories and beg for the budget To incorporate it, but don’t hold your breath. As Barnsley tax payer I have no problem with this
Ask yourself why that is, & why us local tax payers will be footing the bill, as a local tax payer I don't mind, what will it equate to, 10 bob?
It’s amazing how the DWP staff coped the unprecedented demand and situation, especially as we were also learning how to Social distance our workplaces and try to keeps safe. A big up to the Council here for providing free car parking, it made it much more bearable.
My friend got one, hadnt been there before and extolled the virtues of the Market Kitchen to their friends and has gone back since. A good idea imo.