By Lucy Phillips
21 March 2011
Budget cuts are leaving the public sector under-resourced,
resulting in poor staff morale, according to a survey published today.
Two-fifths (41.1%) of the 1,000 public sector workers
surveyed said their ‘key challenge’ was managing widespread under-resourcing
and more than three-quarters (76.6%) reported ‘average’ or ‘poor’ morale.
Among local government workers, 84.4% said morale was ‘average’
to ‘poor’ and 21.9% said their departments were under-staffed.
The findings come six months after the government announced
its cuts programme in the Comprehensive Spending Review and ahead of the Budget
this Wednesday.
Only one in ten (12.1%) of public sector workers thought the
cuts were necessary, according to the survey by recruitment consultancy
Badenoch and Clark. Almost all respondent (96.8%) said they would like the
government to address employment issues in the March 23 Budget.
Duncan Ward, operations director at Badenoch and Clark, said
the research painted ‘a glum picture of life in the public sector’.
He added: ‘Morale is low, as workers are asked to work
harder whilst having little job security. Those departments that have already
seen cuts are feeling the strain and those still awaiting the impact of the
Spending Review are left in limbo. With a growing consensus that the
forthcoming Budget will bring further cuts, a respite for the public sector
looks unlikely.’
