Forestry Commission Trade Unions - www.fctu.org.uk
FCTU Silvan House
Guidance For Reps
The FCTU Silvan House Committee is one of the FCTU's six area teams and is responsible for leading on the FCTU's work in Silvan House.
News and Issues
Humidity 22nd Nov 2009
As a result of a staff survey last year, the Silvan House Staff Council raised the issue of humidity and management had agreed this was an issue that required further investigation, and gave a commitment to looking at the feasibility of installing a system (which included cost). Staff were informed in June that funds were not available at that point in time.
Director HR has now confirmed that funding has been made available to pay for the installation of a humidity system for Silvan House. It is envisaged that the new system will be installed early next financial year.
Silvan House Christmas Opening Times 5th Nov 2008
We have today welcomed the decision to reinstate the concessionary half-day holiday on Christmas Eve in Silvan House. The removal of the half-day holiday in 2005 was one of the pernicious and short-sighted acts so typical of Kim Lardge the former HR director. Now that Kim Lardge herself has 'resigned', we are grateful to the DG and the current HR director for the holiday's reinstatement.
Silvan House Staff Council 21st Jan 2008
The Silvan House Staff Council met on 19 December and we welcomed Jean Lindsay in her role as Acting Director HR. A busy agenda included discussions on numbers of Agency/FTA staff employed at Silvan House, Post Filling procedures, staff on long term TRA, BSD Contractors, SNH’s occupation of half of a floor, the new flexi arrangements and the building survey.
Meetings to discuss the staff survey, specifically levels of humidity in the building, had been postponed to Director HR’s illness. We were pleased to record that a meeting has been scheduled for 1 February, particularly as humidity levels in the building are extremely poor. It was agreed that long term TRA arrangements would be regularised. There had been delays in implementing this due to various reviews and it was agreed that as these had been concluded Heads of Divisions would contacted to discuss any unreasonable TRAs.
For some time now Sykes have leased one floor of the building and they announced that they were relocating to the Borders. No firm date had been given for this move but it does represent a significant drop in income for the FC. The next meeting of the SHSC is scheduled for May.
Silvan House Flexi' System 18th Jan 2008
Following a series of very constructive discussions between HR and the Silvan House NOC, we are pleased to have reached agreement on a number of improvements to the flexible working hours system being used in the building. The new system introduces a number of significant benefits. Staff can now key in and out at their PC as well as the central clock. The new system will automatically increase the duration of short lunch breaks to 30 mins thus reducing the number of amendments required where staff mis-key by a few minutes. The most significant change is that staff will also input their own flexi adjustments with effect from 18 February. We have worked with HR to ensure that the new guidance provides clarity on the rules surrounding flexi. Details of the new scheme are contained in Staff Notice 29.
Silvan House Environment Survey UPDATED 7th Feb 2008
Following the Staff Council meeting in early December Linda McGinley and John Gibson have been working with HR to try and resolve some of the issues highlighted by our survey. The most important of these is the humidity level in the building, which is regularly less than half that recommended by the HSE. At a meeting held of 1/2/08, several options for humidifying the building were considered; with most being ruled on on practicality or health grounds. However HR have agreed to look further at the option of a 'fine mist' system, and Bill will be investigating this further in the next couple of week. Further information: Linda's report of the meeting.
20th Nov 2007
A final copy of the survey results has now been produced and is available here: survey results. Unfortunately due to Director
HR's current sickness absence the next Silvan House Staff Council
meeting has been postponed until early December, when Mary, Linda and
the team will be taking forward the issues raised.
Many thanks to those who participated, if anyone has any further comments we should still welcome feedback via the discussion forum, and we'll update you with progress after the meeting in the normal fashion.
26th Sept 2007
Many thanks to everyone who responded to our survey; 190+ people is about two-thirds of the building. We are due to meet with HR on 3rd October to discuss the results of the survey and what can be done about the environment in the building. In the interim the summary results of the survey have now been posted in the discussion forum and we should welcome any feedback that you might have on them.
17th Sept 2007
Following a sustained level of concern from members about the environment in Silvan House, and in particular the temperature and humidity, PCS Silvan House branch on behalf of the NOC have launched an online survey of all Silvan House staff.
The survey is based on a standard 'sick-building' questionnaire, and asks questions and the office environment as well as individuals' perceptions of how this affects their health. The information will be used to inform a meeting with the building's management team which has been arranged for early October. Everyone in Silvan House should have been given a link to the survey via email, but if you missed it then please click here. (If you are NOT a member of Silvan House staff but would like to see the survey, then please use the following alternative link through which you can complete the survey without affecting the overall results: link for NON Silvan House staff.)