On Monday, 3 February 2014,
A question I would
add to this is that I am lead to understand that ALL of the dredging equipment
was scrapped for almost zero value by the EA when they took over some 20 years
ago.
If true then this MUST be investigated and those responsible prosecuted for malfeasance or theft from the public purse.
As usual, Mr Walker, I won't hold my breath waiting for you to get your thumbs out of your rectum to do something about this and the appalling revelations below about the EA, as I know you are scared stiff of any confrontation and actually looking after your constituent's concerns, and will avoid effecting any meaningful work at all costs. Just look at the relative figures in the table and then at the performance of this huge army!
If true then this MUST be investigated and those responsible prosecuted for malfeasance or theft from the public purse.
As usual, Mr Walker, I won't hold my breath waiting for you to get your thumbs out of your rectum to do something about this and the appalling revelations below about the EA, as I know you are scared stiff of any confrontation and actually looking after your constituent's concerns, and will avoid effecting any meaningful work at all costs. Just look at the relative figures in the table and then at the performance of this huge army!
|
National EA
|
Land Area (km2)
|
Coastline (km)
|
Population
|
Staff
|
Budget
|
|
England (exc Wales/Scotland)
|
130,395
|
12,429
|
53 million
|
11,200
|
£1.2B
|
|
United States EPA
|
9,826,675
|
19,924
|
313.9 million
|
15,913
|
£4.8B
|
|
Canadian EA
|
9,984,670
|
202,080
|
34.9 million
|
6,800
|
£0.52B
|
|
Below 5 EU EAs COMBINED
|
1,608,777
|
17,774
|
169.9 million
|
3,677
|
£0.82B
|
Maybe it is time
YOU were Tim Yeo'd by the constituency!
Nicholas K. Chance
Inside the Environment Agency - Experiences from EA Insiders
Nicholas K. Chance
Inside the Environment Agency - Experiences from EA Insiders
Environment Agency
Insiders
- Henry
- Exposing the internal waste of tax payer and licence payer funds, abuse of working/flexi time and annual leave by staff members, mismanagement by senior and line managers, and the victimisation and harassment of licence holders and operators.
Last posts
- Quote
- Environment Agency One of Biggest in the World?
- Environment Officers still abusing working/flexi time and annual leave
- More Environment Agency Staff Experiences #4
- Environment Agency's ~7,000 Vehicles
- Environment Agency blamed over floods
- Word on the grapevine inside the EA
- EA Alert Given AFTER Flooding Had Commenced
- Another Environment Agency Whistleblower
- Environment Agency Denying Abuses
Inside the
Environment Agency 2014 - Exposing the Waste
We'd like to encourage all to leave
their comments - we already have hundreds of comments from serving and ex-EA
staff, members of the public and even some media folk. Take your time to browse
the posts (38+ last count) detailing the true internal workings of the
Environment Agency. Click the top left icon for about and to explore past
posts. Follow us @EnvAgencyAbuse - Blog stats: 927,392 hits
Inside the Environment Agency 2014 - Exposing the Waste
|
National EA
|
Land Area (km2)
|
Coastline (km)
|
Population
|
Staff
|
Budget
|
|
England (exc Wales/Scotland)
|
130,395
|
12,429
|
53 million
|
11,200
|
£1.2B
|
|
United States EPA
|
9,826,675
|
19,924
|
313.9 million
|
15,913
|
£4.8B
|
|
Canadian EA
|
9,984,670
|
202,080
|
34.9 million
|
6,800
|
£0.52B
|
|
Below 5 EU EAs COMBINED
|
1,608,777
|
17,774
|
169.9 million
|
3,677
|
£0.82B
|
|
Denmark
|
43,094
|
7,314
|
5.6 million
|
450
|
£103m
|
|
France
|
674,843
|
4,853
|
65 million
|
820
|
£540m
|
|
Germany
|
357,021
|
2,389
|
81 million
|
1,400
|
£84m
|
|
Sweden
|
449,964
|
3,218
|
9.5 million
|
530
|
£33m
|
|
Austria
|
83,855
|
0
|
8.5 million
|
477
|
£36m
|
Although
not a perfect like-for-like comparison, it does put the size of our Environment
Agency in perspective - so what choices are you talking about Lord Smith,
because it appears you receive more than enough to carry out the duties you
have been given. Maybe if you took care of the large scale abuse/waste by
staff, and the mismanagement by senior and line managers, you might find you
have more than enough to protect "town and country".
References below - all Environment Agencies have very similar duties: environmental protection, water resource management, severe weather monitoring, ecology, sustainable development, climate change adaptation, waste regulations, environmental planning, air quality and pollution, general pollution monitoring and enforcement, fisheries, navigation, flood and coastal management and major industry regulation. Some, like the French, US and Canadian EAs have additional duties such as management of energy industry, which in the UK falls under DECC.
In the UK, as in other countries, there are also other bodies responsible for flood management, including the local councils and emergency services - Do councils deal with flooding?
England's EA is almost the size of the Canadian, Danish, French, German, Swedish and Austrian EAs COMBINED! Going by these statistics, it would appear that the Environment Agency is overstaffed by around 9,000 and has a budget that appears to be £0.5-1 billion too much.
This, along with what I and others have experienced, highlights the dire need for an indepth analysis and review of the Environment Agency with the aim of restructuring the body to ensure that tax payer money is being spent effectively.
References: English Environment Agency | German Federal Environment Agency | French Energy & Environment Agency | Swedish EPA | Austrian EA | Danish EPA | List of countries by length of coastline | US EPA| Environment Canada
Permalink · Comments (47)
References below - all Environment Agencies have very similar duties: environmental protection, water resource management, severe weather monitoring, ecology, sustainable development, climate change adaptation, waste regulations, environmental planning, air quality and pollution, general pollution monitoring and enforcement, fisheries, navigation, flood and coastal management and major industry regulation. Some, like the French, US and Canadian EAs have additional duties such as management of energy industry, which in the UK falls under DECC.
In the UK, as in other countries, there are also other bodies responsible for flood management, including the local councils and emergency services - Do councils deal with flooding?
England's EA is almost the size of the Canadian, Danish, French, German, Swedish and Austrian EAs COMBINED! Going by these statistics, it would appear that the Environment Agency is overstaffed by around 9,000 and has a budget that appears to be £0.5-1 billion too much.
This, along with what I and others have experienced, highlights the dire need for an indepth analysis and review of the Environment Agency with the aim of restructuring the body to ensure that tax payer money is being spent effectively.
References: English Environment Agency | German Federal Environment Agency | French Energy & Environment Agency | Swedish EPA | Austrian EA | Danish EPA | List of countries by length of coastline | US EPA| Environment Canada
Permalink · Comments (47)
EnvironmentAgencyDefraUKFloodingEnvironmentalWastePermitPermittingRegulationWhistleblowerRecruitmentJobsmapukwarningsfloodofficers
Inside the
Environment Agency 2014 - Exposing the Waste
Thanks to my very
loyal colleague who still works inside the Environment
Agency (although also disillusioned by it all), I now have a copy of
the annual leave record cards used by staff. This is kept by the staff member,
completed by the staff member and signed by the line manager. As exposed in an
earlier post, this system is regularly abused by significant numbers of staff
members, including line management. Despite staff only being entitled to 25 to
30 days annual leave (plus additional flexi days - if they put in the hours), I
have witnessed, and my loyal internal friends still attest to, many staff
taking far in excess of these entitlements - as many as three months in some
instances.
Working hours are similarly logged on a simple spreadsheet and updated to the IBIS system by the staff members themselves (there has been discussions about the money wasted on this archaic system in the news). Apparently, abuse of this system is also continuing, despite the recent announcement of cuts. Again, as mentioned in earlier posts, I have witnessed staff come in at 10am and go home at 3pm and still record that they worked 9am to 5pm (7am to 3pm, 10am to 6pm, etc). Other abuses still apparently continue, such as field staff (especially Environment Officers) claiming to carry out site/incident visits, but in actual fact going home, going shopping and carrying out other domestic activities whilst claiming to be working, staff with home working privileges who do anything but, as well as claiming back higher mileage expenses than what they actually incur - I remember one Officer who claimed to be making an additional £90-100 per month through logging extra mileage.
Hopefully, this blog will continue to paint a picture of the actual internal workings of the Environment Agency. It should help illustrate the amount of waste and mismanagement taking place. This is, of course, leaving out the bullying and harassment of staff members who don't tow the line and of operators who question our decisions.
Working hours are similarly logged on a simple spreadsheet and updated to the IBIS system by the staff members themselves (there has been discussions about the money wasted on this archaic system in the news). Apparently, abuse of this system is also continuing, despite the recent announcement of cuts. Again, as mentioned in earlier posts, I have witnessed staff come in at 10am and go home at 3pm and still record that they worked 9am to 5pm (7am to 3pm, 10am to 6pm, etc). Other abuses still apparently continue, such as field staff (especially Environment Officers) claiming to carry out site/incident visits, but in actual fact going home, going shopping and carrying out other domestic activities whilst claiming to be working, staff with home working privileges who do anything but, as well as claiming back higher mileage expenses than what they actually incur - I remember one Officer who claimed to be making an additional £90-100 per month through logging extra mileage.
Hopefully, this blog will continue to paint a picture of the actual internal workings of the Environment Agency. It should help illustrate the amount of waste and mismanagement taking place. This is, of course, leaving out the bullying and harassment of staff members who don't tow the line and of operators who question our decisions.
EnvironmentAgencyDefraUKFloodingEnvironmentalWastePermitPermittingRegulationWhistleblowerRecruitmentJobsmapukwarningsfloodofficers
Inside the
Environment Agency 2014 - Exposing the Waste
In addition to the
dozens of Environment
Agency staff experiences posted previously on this blog (see More
Environment Agency Staff Experiences #1, 2 & 3), here are even more that
have come in over the past few weeks:
Rick Blade: “I
will never forget my team leader saying he "didnt really know how many
team members he had as some had been on maternity leave so long, it had
literally been years since he had seen them."”
Rick Blade: “My
sympathies were always with the older guys marking time till their retirement,
and hating every hour of form-filling, and desk-work-procedures that their
river supervision job had been reduced to. One old timer said sadly to me once
" See.. that gully there overflows now and then and needs keeping clean,
or those houses will flood. When I`m gone no one will remember or will do it,
on them dark nights." "Certainly not them lot" and he waved his
hand, office-ward, toward the banks of new generation children sitting at their
PCs, in the warm."
Rachel: “Completely
agree with everything on here. I'm fed up of people saying they're stressed,
not paid enough and too much to do, they don't know the meaning of the word
stressed, are paid more than enough for what they do and can't possibly have
too much to do if they only work 37 hours a week! This blog needs to go to the
papers so the country can see where their money really goes. 1700 job cuts, the
agency could manage perfectly well with half the staff if people actually
worked a full week. Claiming a 12 day for sitting on a train and having dinner
paid for is disgusting. I know people who work in a different office twice a
week and claim for travel time, they do not work on the train so effectively
work a four day week. Not even that as they have enough flexi to finish at 3 on
a Friday. We need to change this! I appreciate not all staff are like this but
too many are.”
Steve: “Fact
since the NRA was merged with others the flood defence / operational side of
the EA has been over policed by the tree huggers from with in. fact water voles
have more rights than people or property. Leaving rivers to self clean is
absolute rubbish rivers need to be maintained and dredged to maintain /
increase the amount of water contained hence eleviating the risk of out of bank
flooding. As for not having enough money to carry out works there is more than
enough as often at the end of year money is wasted on anything just to get it
out of the door because if it's not spent you will have your budget slashed
next year. its a joke the EA IS TOP HEAVY and does not have enough operatives
on the coal face and those who are are demotivated and lazy. I my self has
witnessed operational staff painting offices booking their time to an emergency
flood defence code. Overtime being booked and not worked. I could write a book
on what I,ve seen from with in and one final point how many flood defences
could of been built with the amount and cost of change projects over the
years!!”
EO: “2 years ive
been working here and everything you say on this blog rings true for me. it is
soo demotivating watching others come in late and leave early but always have
enough for flexidays. i hope things get sorted soon or ill be looking for a new
job with more motivated people. good job henry for bringing out.”
Stuck: “Speaking
as an insider myself I share the same concerns BUT where else can one get a job
with these perks. As much as I hate the wasteful culture its tolerable for the
perks. Wish I had never joined that way I would never have been indoctrinated
and wouldn't know about these privileges. Morals or money? With bills, I choose
the money.”
Ariston: "Make
no mistake - the abuse of flexi-time and working from home (a misnomer if ever
I heard one) is just as prevalent in regions other than those you've mentioned.
And that's coming from someone who's been there for only a short time. As you
have pointed out, the majority of staff are hard-working and dedicated to their
jobs, yet like anything, it is those staff that abuse their position that are
conspicuous. Disgusting. And I too experienced discrimination in my interview
yet somehow was offered the job. A very strange apple is the EA - and one
that's perhaps rotten to the core."
Wasteman: "I
worked for the EA for just under 2 years after leaving university. I completely
agree with this post; I found it exasperating watching other members of my team
flouting the flexitime 'rules'. With regard to working from home, I would also
question exactly how much work can be done when some staff in my office would
work at home with their young children. My opinion of the recently announced
staff cuts is that they should provide an incentive to the work-shy officers
and staff of the EA to increase their efforts. The EA has a difficult job to do
in many areas, and this is made harder and more galling when members of teams
so openly abuse their benefits. I was lucky enough to work in a team with some
excellent officers who would work until the job was done rather than until they
had completed 37.5 hours in a week. However, more often than not this meant
that they would end up working harder to account for the shortcomings of their
colleagues."
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Permalink · Comments (7)
EnvironmentAgencyDefraUKFloodingEnvironmentalWastePermitPermittingRegulationWhistleblowerRecruitmentJobsmapukwarningsfloodofficers
Inside the
Environment Agency 2014 - Exposing the Waste
Interesting trivia
on number of Environment Agency vehicles from the Avoncliff Blog, which even I didn't know: "To carry
out its field duties, the EA operates a fleet of 4,747 company cars funded on contract hire with full
maintenance (at high expense, along with the documented abuse of the
mileage claim back system highlighted in this blog), with an additional 1,920
badged 4x4s. That's nearly 7,000 vehicles (plus trucks) - that's more than
one official vehicle for every two employees... which does seem quite high -
no?"
"Drivers of
leased vehicles at the EA are paid a mileage rate and are not issued with fuel
cards. This makes it very difficult for the EA to capture and analyse mileage
data on each vehicle at the end of its contract, as it is recorded on a driver
basis, rather than a vehicle basis" - resulting in abuse of the mileage
system when staff over-report business mileage primarily by claiming expenses
on personal trips/exaggerating business miles.
More money seems to be spent on high staff salaries, inefficient systems, unnecessary vehicles and toys, lost work time from system abuses, and excess number of managers/"specialists" than on flood defences!
More money seems to be spent on high staff salaries, inefficient systems, unnecessary vehicles and toys, lost work time from system abuses, and excess number of managers/"specialists" than on flood defences!
Alan Blenkhorn
makes a good point in the comments: "The Environment Agency was formed in
1996, so less than 20 years old. In almost every one of those years, the agency
has been mired in controversy - the short flight debacle, flood defence
failings, management bonuses, ad infinitum. The
agency just does not work, so why won't this government do the right thing and
reform it?"
Permalink · Comments (19)
Permalink · Comments (19)
EnvironmentAgencyDefraUKFloodingEnvironmentalWastePermitPermittingRegulationWhistleblowerRecruitmentJobsmapukwarningsfloodofficers
Inside the
Environment Agency 2014 - Exposing the Waste
With recent "revelations" into the
mismanagement of rivers in the South-east, which has no doubt exacerbated the
flooding situation there, it would be prudent for MPs, local communities and
businesses to take this opportunity to heed the insider experiences raised by
numerous ex and current serving Environment Agency staff here, and elsewhere.
These issues concerning mismanagement, poor training, questionable staff
practices, etc. are far more interwoven in all areas of the organisation, but
seldom come to light because of the fear, by good staff, operators and others
affected, of the negative backlash.
As "we" continue to point out, a thorough review into the organisation, right down to the day-to-day operations and activities of individual teams is essential to identify, isolate and correct these ever growing problems. This has yet to be done since its inception - that is, the haphazard integration aka slamming together of the original bodies that now hold the name of "Environment Agency"
The historical and current performance of the Environment Agency has proven that it's current structure, management and operational activities are not fit for purpose, and will continue to be a blackhole for public funds, as well as a drag on economic activities that the organisation regulates/protects - from flooding all the way through to the numerous activities it regulates.
This needs to be dealt with before it drops back under the radar, where these problems will lurk, until another catastrophe reveals these failings again!
BBC News - Environment Agency blamed over floods
'They found £31million for a BIRD SANCTUARY but won't pay £5million to dredge the river'
Environment Agency flood response criticised by MPs
MP blasts 'pathetic' Environment Agency over flooding chaos on Somerset Levels
Dredging will ease flooding in Somerset Levels, admits Environment Agency boss
Permalink · Comments (14)
As "we" continue to point out, a thorough review into the organisation, right down to the day-to-day operations and activities of individual teams is essential to identify, isolate and correct these ever growing problems. This has yet to be done since its inception - that is, the haphazard integration aka slamming together of the original bodies that now hold the name of "Environment Agency"
The historical and current performance of the Environment Agency has proven that it's current structure, management and operational activities are not fit for purpose, and will continue to be a blackhole for public funds, as well as a drag on economic activities that the organisation regulates/protects - from flooding all the way through to the numerous activities it regulates.
This needs to be dealt with before it drops back under the radar, where these problems will lurk, until another catastrophe reveals these failings again!
BBC News - Environment Agency blamed over floods
'They found £31million for a BIRD SANCTUARY but won't pay £5million to dredge the river'
Environment Agency flood response criticised by MPs
MP blasts 'pathetic' Environment Agency over flooding chaos on Somerset Levels
Dredging will ease flooding in Somerset Levels, admits Environment Agency boss
Permalink · Comments (14)
EnvironmentAgencyDefraUKFloodingEnvironmentalWastePermitPermittingRegulationWhistleblowerRecruitmentJobsmapukwarningsfloodofficers
Inside the
Environment Agency 2014 - Exposing the Waste
Sources have
informed me that the most senior of management inside the Environment Agency
have now begun an investigation into the issues raised here, and by others
elsewhere (including from former and current serving Environment Agency staff).
I can only hope that these issues are thoroughly exposed and dealt with. This
is the very least that can be expected from a publicly funded organisation.
Whether this will fully resolve these issues, only time will tell!
Permalink · Comments (16)
Whether this will fully resolve these issues, only time will tell!
Permalink · Comments (16)
EnvironmentAgencyDefraUKFloodingEnvironmentalWastePermitPermittingRegulationWhistleblowerRecruitmentJobsmapukwarningsfloodofficers
Inside the
Environment Agency 2014 - Exposing the Waste
I recently posted
about the slow response
from the Environment Agency during December's floods - seems I was onto
something: Environment Agency Confirms Alert Was Given After Flooding Had
Commenced. Could problems with flood level monitoring equipment have
happened elsewhere during the floods, subsequently reducing residents
preparedness and impacting potential responses? Why weren't the Flood Officers
aware of this issue and why did the Environment
Agency not act accordingly to this information?
It would be good to hear from people affected to see what they thought of the Environment Agency's response to the recent floods - it appears to me, and many others observing the news, that other emergency and council services were already on the ball at least a day or two before the Environment Agency.
Permalink · Comments (11)
It would be good to hear from people affected to see what they thought of the Environment Agency's response to the recent floods - it appears to me, and many others observing the news, that other emergency and council services were already on the ball at least a day or two before the Environment Agency.
Permalink · Comments (11)
EnvironmentAgencyDefraUKFloodingEnvironmentalWastePermitPermittingRegulationWhistleblowerRecruitmentJobsmapukwarningsfloodofficers
Inside the
Environment Agency 2014 - Exposing the Waste
Even more Environment Agency Whistleblowers blowing the lid:
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Inside the
Environment Agency 2014 - Exposing the Waste
It is becoming
clear from news reports into these issues at the Environment Agency that
they have decided to use the denial strategy. I spent the last six months
of my employment within the EA raising these issues to senior management who
found it more convenient to sweep it under the carpet - the EA is VERY
cautious about it's PR. Even earlier than this I questioned these practices
(abuse of flexi time/holiday system, the lack of oversight/action by team
leaders, along with the questionable practices by a number of Environment
Officers - racial profiling, boosting of incidents rates and regulatory tactics
that amounted to bullying/harassment of operators).
Since that time, friends still inside have commented that these practices are still continuing unabated. Why? Others have finally come out in support and given their experiences. These issues are predominantly in front-line positions - Environmental Management (Environment Officers/Team leaders) and in the Flood Management (Flood Officers/Team leaders) teams. There is practically NO oversight of the activities of individuals in these areas. There is EXCESSIVE POWERS and FREEDOM to do whatever they feel, which has resulted in this astonishing abuse and waste.
I need not mention the CUSHY Grade 5 jobbers earning £31k-40k+ with lots of extras on top, but exclaim how easy they have it with little real work to do, absolutely ZERO oversight (even compared to grade 3/4 EOs and FOs) and with little frontline duties.
In total, the Environment Agency’s current profile contains 11,915 staff. Grades 4 and 5 comprise the majority of Environment Agency staff with 52% of staff between them. Only 1.2% of staff is in the highest grade group (Executive Managers). The EA bulges at the middle with staff that claim to be specialists who are unable to actually work on the frontline - I and many others have experienced this and continue to expose this fundamental weakness.
These issues have been raised to the relevant MPs and Executives, yet even these most senior of people still have not taken this as an opportunity to review these areas and confirm for themselves, or they have chosen to ignore the issues in order to avoid embarrassment.
How can one raise formal complaints (as happened internally), if it is the very same people who are in close cahoots with the perpetrators, and ultimately responsible for the current system that is being abused?
Permalink · Comments (23)
Since that time, friends still inside have commented that these practices are still continuing unabated. Why? Others have finally come out in support and given their experiences. These issues are predominantly in front-line positions - Environmental Management (Environment Officers/Team leaders) and in the Flood Management (Flood Officers/Team leaders) teams. There is practically NO oversight of the activities of individuals in these areas. There is EXCESSIVE POWERS and FREEDOM to do whatever they feel, which has resulted in this astonishing abuse and waste.
I need not mention the CUSHY Grade 5 jobbers earning £31k-40k+ with lots of extras on top, but exclaim how easy they have it with little real work to do, absolutely ZERO oversight (even compared to grade 3/4 EOs and FOs) and with little frontline duties.
In total, the Environment Agency’s current profile contains 11,915 staff. Grades 4 and 5 comprise the majority of Environment Agency staff with 52% of staff between them. Only 1.2% of staff is in the highest grade group (Executive Managers). The EA bulges at the middle with staff that claim to be specialists who are unable to actually work on the frontline - I and many others have experienced this and continue to expose this fundamental weakness.
These issues have been raised to the relevant MPs and Executives, yet even these most senior of people still have not taken this as an opportunity to review these areas and confirm for themselves, or they have chosen to ignore the issues in order to avoid embarrassment.
How can one raise formal complaints (as happened internally), if it is the very same people who are in close cahoots with the perpetrators, and ultimately responsible for the current system that is being abused?
Permalink · Comments (23)
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Inside the
Environment Agency 2014 - Exposing the Waste
We have even more
EA staff members posting their experiences:
Waterman comments: "25 years in flood risk and drainage with EA and predecessors and I recognise many of the administrative failings. As a manager,to challenge staff abuse of systems is often such an HR struggle due to the complex process with little prospect of an effective outcome. As a result lazy so and so's continue to get away with it. As a TL in Devon I took on a team where I was told by my staff that I couldn't make them go on standby, they had a right to their 13 flexi days. Didn't have to let me know where they were or what they were doing, claimed harassment when I rang to contact them for operational needs and bullied more compliant colleagues. The organisation is tick box and process obsessed to the point where it is not possible to make common sense decisions. Someone needs to tell the emperor that he is naked!"
Waster comments: "I was an EA officer for 10 years and during that time no-one ever verified my time recording - it was an admin task that was bodged together every fortnight . The IBIS system was painful to use and on ocasion took a couple of hours to populate with useless data. All so someone in a higher paid position could analyse the useless data for useless reporting? Similarly no -one ever verified my mileage claims or compared it against the time recording . In the 'good old days' when you were allowed to use your own vehicle and reclaim mileage it would have been easy to rack up significant extra mileage claims - payback on lease car rates would make £90-£100 per month very difficult though.....seems doubtful. The flexible working regime is something i do miss - and with no real monitoring of comings and goings it was ripe for abuse(should you be so inclined) . For those of us who worked hard it was soul destroying watching some of the staff cruise in and out at will and still take their allocation of 13 days flexi per year - despite never managing a 37.5 hr week.. What isnt mentioned is the Working From Home phenomena that is supported by the EA. Some staff are literally raising families while supposedly WFH. Attending the office 1 day a week (sometimes) while working at home with 2 under 5's for the other 3/4 days. Staff unable to attend incidents at regulated sites because they cant be contacted - as they at school with the kids or in the shops... yep. There are great, hard-working and commited people at the EA- some are fantastic - and i guess you would find this in any organisation of this size. But all the above is common knowledge/ a joke within the organisation and change is required."
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Waterman comments: "25 years in flood risk and drainage with EA and predecessors and I recognise many of the administrative failings. As a manager,to challenge staff abuse of systems is often such an HR struggle due to the complex process with little prospect of an effective outcome. As a result lazy so and so's continue to get away with it. As a TL in Devon I took on a team where I was told by my staff that I couldn't make them go on standby, they had a right to their 13 flexi days. Didn't have to let me know where they were or what they were doing, claimed harassment when I rang to contact them for operational needs and bullied more compliant colleagues. The organisation is tick box and process obsessed to the point where it is not possible to make common sense decisions. Someone needs to tell the emperor that he is naked!"
Waster comments: "I was an EA officer for 10 years and during that time no-one ever verified my time recording - it was an admin task that was bodged together every fortnight . The IBIS system was painful to use and on ocasion took a couple of hours to populate with useless data. All so someone in a higher paid position could analyse the useless data for useless reporting? Similarly no -one ever verified my mileage claims or compared it against the time recording . In the 'good old days' when you were allowed to use your own vehicle and reclaim mileage it would have been easy to rack up significant extra mileage claims - payback on lease car rates would make £90-£100 per month very difficult though.....seems doubtful. The flexible working regime is something i do miss - and with no real monitoring of comings and goings it was ripe for abuse(should you be so inclined) . For those of us who worked hard it was soul destroying watching some of the staff cruise in and out at will and still take their allocation of 13 days flexi per year - despite never managing a 37.5 hr week.. What isnt mentioned is the Working From Home phenomena that is supported by the EA. Some staff are literally raising families while supposedly WFH. Attending the office 1 day a week (sometimes) while working at home with 2 under 5's for the other 3/4 days. Staff unable to attend incidents at regulated sites because they cant be contacted - as they at school with the kids or in the shops... yep. There are great, hard-working and commited people at the EA- some are fantastic - and i guess you would find this in any organisation of this size. But all the above is common knowledge/ a joke within the organisation and change is required."
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