About 100 ICC staff on 50% of wages

As the country moves into Alert Level 3, the way staff at Invercargill City Council are paid will change, meaning about 100 employees will receive 50% of their usual wage.

About 25% of ICC staff who are unable to work during Level 3 have been told they will receive half of their wage but have the option to top it up with annual leave.

ICC chief executive Clare Hadley said the council was unable to obtain the government wage subsidy, and said the criteria to receive it were hard for a council to prove.

"We started collecting information with the intention of applying for the subsidy. But it was subsequently clarified you needed to be able to demonstrate a number of things that we were unable to demonstrate."

The wage change mainly affected staff who worked in the library or pool, which were unable to open.

"We’ve tried to balance what this looks like for people, recognising that staff we employ reflect the community that we’re part of."

She said the council endeavoured to keep staff working in other areas, such as for Civil Defence, but it was a reflection of the difficult circumstances "which we all find ourselves in".

"Its an effort to be collaborative, co-operative and go some way towards recognising there would be a cost if we were to end their employment and that they need some income in order to maintain themselves during this period."

Once staff were able to work again, wages would go back to normal. All staff were paid in full until yesterday.

"Right at the beginning we indicated that we would be looking at what the arrangements would be, and we clarified what they would be
very early on that we would not be in a position to guarantee post April 27."

She said the council had also stated it provided an Employee Assistance Programme which included a range of services.

Staff were notified of the change in a Covid-19 ICC staff update on April 22.

It said anyone working 100% would be paid in full, staff working less than fulltime would be paid at 75% and those unable to work would be paid 50%.

laura.smith@odt.co.nz