London Fire Brigade is using a staff survey to shape future policies on
diversity, flexible working and affordable housing.
All of the brigade’s 6,750 staff received a 13-page questionnaire last week
which will be used to update the HR database to comply with legal requirements
under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act and monitor the diversity of the
workforce.
Also included in the survey are questions on where staff live, how they
travel to work and how long commuting takes.
The questions are designed to help shape future policies on key worker
accommodation and flexible working, which the brigade is looking to introduce
in the autumn.
James Dalgleish, head of HR at London Fire Brigade, believes the information
will help the organisation provide policies that reflect staff requirements.
He said: "Up-to-date information is important to HR policy development.
By understanding the diversity of our staff we will be able to deal with issues
and discrimination in the workplace.
"How staff get to work will help when looking at flexible working,
remuneration and key worker housing policies."
The questionnaire also includes a voluntary section on religion and how well
the brigade accommodates its employees’ faiths.
Survey results could lead to the introduction of a policy on religion.
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Dalgleish said: "Practicing religion and faith in a 24-hour, seven days
a week operation like the fire brigade is difficult, so we might need to
support staff to do so in the workplace."
By Paul Nelson
