Internal communication is a key area of growth at the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD), according to a 2017 staff survey.
The employee satisfaction survey was completed in October 2017 and was mentioned in a semi-annual report at a corporate and administrative services committee on Jan. 25. “What emerged as a top area of focus is for communication to continue to improve,” said Gerry Parker, senior manager of human resources at the SCRD.
“We’re a pretty diverse organization, with people up and down the entire span of the Coast, and some of them have quick and easy access to email, some don’t. Some prefer to read about things, some people prefer to hear about it in person,” Parker said. “It’s a challenge to communicate effectively with 200 to 250 staff members in a way that they find meaningful.”
Last year, relationship development and recognition were highlighted as growth areas, which resulted in the launch of peer-led recognition programs whereby employees nominate other staff members and teams to acknowledge their contributions.
The SCRD has been conducting staff surveys since 2013, except for 2014. Results were presented to the board in 2013 and 2015. Parker said that on the whole, the 2017 survey results showed a slight improvement over last year.
The 25-question survey is voluntary and anonymous and partially modelled after the industry-leading Gallup Engagement Survey. A small committee is tasked with improving the survey process. The next survey will be conducted in September 2019.
