Northern Territory Public Sector : People Matter Survey Report 2014
Office of the Commissioner for Public Employment reports; Reports; PublicationNT
2015
Made available via the Publications (Legal Deposit) Act 2004 (NT).
English
Northern Territory. Office of the Commissioner for Public Employment -- Periodicals; Civil service -- Northern Territory -- Personnel management -- Periodicals
Office of the Commissioner for Public Employment
Darwin
2206-0235
Check within Publication or with content Publisher.
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/259019
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/499901
10 0 3 | B A C K G R O U N D NORTHERN TERRITORY PUBLIC SECTOR PEOPLE MATTER SURVEY REPORT 2014 03 | BACKGROUND PUBLIC SECTOR EMPLOYMENT AND MANAGEMENT ACT The NTPS 2014 People Matter Survey provides an opportunity to gain insights into agency performance (or, more accurately, perceptions of performance), including whether employees, their colleagues and managers are delivering their business in accordance with their responsibilities under PSEMA. PSEMA is the act for the regulation of the NTPS and HR administration and management of agencies established for government and public purposes. Among other things, PSEMA sets out the powers, functions and responsibilities of the Commissioner for Public Employment and Chief Executives. Through regulation, PSEMA sets out the principles of public administration and management, human resource management and conduct. These, together with the Code of Conduct (Employment Instruction Number 13), are intrinsic elements of the employment arrangements established by PSEMA. Whilst the principles are expressed in general terms, they establish a framework that informs employees of their obligations and rights. At a different level, the principles also constitute a set of standards against which agency HR policies, procedures and other initiatives can be measured. Similarly, the Code of Conduct provides specific guidance on a range of ethical and practical issues that may impact on employees during their service to the NT community. NTPS employees are in a rare position of trust requiring standards of behaviour that reflect community expectations. The principles and Code of Conduct are part of the terms and conditions of the employment relationship. As such they are binding on all employees and must be observed by all, including Chief Executives and the Commissioner for Public Employment. The principles and the Code of Conduct inform the focus of research of the survey including the concepts of community service and fairness; accountable for actions and performance; employment based on merit; application for employment open to all; managing performance; equity in employment; flexible workplace; fair internal review system; rewarding workplace; apolitical, impartial and ethical; quality leadership; discrimination-free and diversity recognised; employee consultation and input recognised; and safe workplace. It should be noted that not all public servants are bound by PSEMA (including, sworn police officers, public prosecutors, the judiciary and the heads of statutory authorities). SURVEY METHODOLOGY The People Matter Survey was developed by the Victorian State Service Authority (now the Victorian Public Sector Commission) and represents the most widely adopted survey instrument amongst the various state and territory jurisdictions. The standard People Matter Survey instrument has been revised to meet the needs of the NTPS and in particular to assess performance against the NTPS Values PSEMA General Principles and Code of Conduct.2 The People Matter Survey seeks the opinions of public sector employees about the performance of their organisation in terms of organisational culture, values and well-being. The survey asks questions about: - change management - employee engagement - workplace well-being - job satisfaction - service delivery - leadership - team work - personal accountability - communication (including feedback) - extent to which behaviours, such as fairness and respect, are valued in the workplace. 2 In 2016, the survey questions informing measurement of the NTPS Values and Principles will be reviewed and potentially refined through the addition of further questions.