At the end of June 2020, we undertook a COVID-19 Pulse Survey to find out if employees felt supported and informed during lockdown.
1226 people from across the organisation completed the survey, providing their thoughts on wellbeing, working arrangements, management & leadership and communication.
We'd like to thank all those who took part. Your views are extremely important.
Next steps
A series of employee focus groups will be held in August to explore the key issues raised by the survey. The outcomes from these groups, alongside the results of the pulse survey and last year's employee engagement survey, will form the basis of an action plan.
The plan aims to strengthen our culture, so every employee has the support and information needed to thrive. To make that happen, we need everyone to buy-in to the plan, which will be shared with employees at the start of autumn.
If you have any questions, please email the Programme Management Office.
Completed responses
Overall 1226 of employees filled in the COVID-19 Pulse Survey. Of those who completed the survey:
| Service | Number of responses |
|---|
| Children's Services | 287 |
| Corporate & Housing Services | 554 |
| Development Services | 203 |
| Social Work Adult Services | 171 |
Wellbeing
I know where to go for support about my health, safety and wellbeing
80.9% of respondents said they know where to go for support about their health, safety and wellbeing, 11.1% were unsure, and 8.1% said they don't know.
| Answer | Number of responses |
|---|
| Strongly agree | 350 |
| Agree | 637 |
| Neither agree or disagree | 136 |
| Disagree | 80 |
| Strongly disagree | 18 |
Key points from the feedback given include:
- Desire for more online wellbeing content
- Too much information on the employee guidance page, which was overwhelming for some
- General lack of genuine management support about employee wellbeing
- Lack of recognition that employees deserve a good work/life balance
Working arrangements
Are you working from home, or coming into the workplace?
Of the 11% who stated 'other' the top three most common ways of working are:
- Working a 50/50 split (61%)
- Home - unable to work (22%)
- In the community (10%)
| Answer | Number of responses |
|---|
| Mostly home | 881 |
| Mostly workplace | 210 |
| Other | 135 |
What are the top three challenges you face working from/being at home?
Of those who work from/are at home, the top three challenges are:
- Social isolation
- Access to tools or information to do my job from home
- Communications with colleagues
| Answer | Total for each choice |
|---|
| Social isolation | 401 |
| Access to tools or information to do my job from home | 380 |
| Communications with colleagues | 330 |
| Physical workspace | 283 |
| Keeping a regular work schedule | 201 |
| Distractions at home | 193 |
| Childcare | 162 |
| I don't face any challenges | 135 |
| Internet connectivity | 119 |
| Other | 90 |
What are the top three challenges you face coming into your workplace?
Of those who come into the workplace, the top three challenges are:
- Concerns about being exposed to coronavirus
- Concerns about spreading coronavirus to my family
- Availability of protective equipment
| Answer | Total for each choice |
|---|
| Concerns about being exposed to coronavirus | 162 |
| Concerns about spreading coronavirus to my family | 150 |
| Availability of protective equipment | 85 |
| Working differently | 45 |
| Communication with colleagues | 42 |
| My physical workplace | 40 |
| I don't face any challenges | 21 |
| Childcare | 17 |
| Travel to or from work | 7 |
| Other | 12 |
As lockdown eases, working from home may become part of a new working pattern for some roles in the Council.
| Answer | Number of responses |
|---|
| All week | 223 |
| Three days | 338 |
| Four days | 140 |
| Two days or less | 280 |
| None | 239 |
Key points from the feedback given include:
- Need for more clarity around how we will work moving forward
- Some workplaces have remained open during lockdown with lack of guidance on how to work safely
- Better direction from leadership on what our next steps will be
- For some working from home is a struggle; for others, a success
Leadership & Management
How could we better support you at this time?
25.7% of respondents said better management and leadership, 17.8% said better communication, and 10.9% said no further support was needed.
| Answer | Number of responses |
|---|
| Management & Leadership | 282 |
| Communication | 195 |
| None required | 120 |
| Wellbeing | 95 |
| Homeworking equipment | 90 |
| Working arrangements | 76 |
| Work/life balance | 47 |
| Teamwork and collaboration | 42 |
| IT systems | 34 |
| Health & Safety | 30 |
| Childcare/homeschooling | 25 |
| Financial support/compensation | 20 |
| Value and recognition | 20 |
| Culture | 15 |
| Training | 4 |
| Job security | 3 |
I have enough contact with my line manager/supervisor/chargehand
74% said they have enough contact with their line manager/supervisor/chargehand, 13.5% said they don’t and 12.4% neither agree nor disagree.
| Answer | Number of responses |
|---|
| Strongly agree | 464 |
| Agree | 442 |
| Neither agree or disagree | 152 |
| Disagree | 100 |
| Strongly disagree | 65 |
Key points from the feedback given include:
- Lack of leadership at the start of the crisis
- The knowledge and experience of employees (at all levels) was not fully utilised – and in some cases ignored
- There was a lack of understanding of people's personal circumstances
- Not all employees got the opportunity to work from home even when it was a viable option
Communication
The communications I have received have been helpful and reassuring
61.5% said the communications they'd received were helpful and reassuring, 18.6% said they weren’t, and 19.8% neither agree nor disagree.
| Answer | Number of responses |
|---|
| Strongly agree | 254 |
| Agree | 500 |
| Neither agree or disagree | 281 |
| Disagree | 123 |
| Strongly disagree | 63 |
I am kept up-to-date and well informed about Falkirk Council’s response to this situation
61.5% said they were kept up-to-date and informed about our response, 18.6% said they weren’t and 19.8% neither agree nor disagree.
| Answer | Number of responses |
|---|
| Strongly agree | 228 |
| Agree | 521 |
| Neither agree or disagree | 241 |
| Disagree | 162 |
| Strongly disagree | 65 |
My team are communicating well and staying connected
72.8% said their team were communicating well and staying connected, 13.7% said they weren’t, and 13.4% neither agree or disagree.
| Answer | Number of responses |
|---|
| Strongly agree | 385 |
| Agree | 499 |
| Neither agree or disagree | 166 |
| Disagree | 114 |
| Strongly disagree | 49 |
Key points from the feedback given include:
- More information needed regarding future working arrangements and recovery planning
- Employees want to contribute to modernising the way the Council works but need up-to-date information to do that
- General lack of team meetings across the board
- Better communication would make employees feel valued