Community
Don’t Trash Our Staff
Staff at the tip and waste services staff have been subjected to hostility and abuse
Douglas Council has said abuse of its staff will not be tolerated.
You’ll never guess what is said to be causing the abuse.
Waste collectors, staff at the tip and waste services staff have been subjected to hostility and abuse from members of the public since the Council cut bin collections to fortnightly.
Council leader Claire Wells said: ‘All at Douglas Council are committed to a work environment free of assault, abuse, harassment and bullying where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.
‘While the behaviour of the majority of members of the public is great, some people believe it is acceptable to abuse, intimidate or even threaten Council employees, and to generally treat and speak to them in a fashion that they would never dream of doing when dealing with other organisations.
‘To verbally abuse members of staff because you don’t agree with a change in policy, or for any other reason, is totally unacceptable. If someone is dissatisfied with a service, we have processes in place that enable people to report issues – please don’t take it out on a member of staff.
‘All our public-facing employees carry out demanding and vital work for all our communities, day in and day out – whatever the weather. They should be treated with the same common courtesy and respect as anyone else.’
There has been sizeable opposition to the change in policy by the council, which was done without consultation with ratepayers.
At a meeting last Monday, Mrs Wells and councillor Falk Horning, who were labelled arrogant by some in attendance, told residents that they won’t be going back on the decision, which has angered some residents and drawn criticism from several of Douglas’ MHKs.
However, they did say that the policy would be reviewed after a year has passed and said that help remains available for people who can’t manage on one collection a fortnight.
Mr Horning added: ‘The waste service team works tirelessly to keep the capital clean and functioning and is, for the most part, taken completely for granted by the public. Officers are speaking regularly with the waste teams to understand what issues they’ve encountered. The council will take a zero-tolerance approach to those who abuse them. Please be kind – as your words and actions may have consequences.’
