File ref: IRO 9959
8 June 2020
Chris McCashin
[FYI request #12756 email]
Dear Chris
Information Request – COVID-19 Staff unable to work remotely during Alert Level 4 and 3.
Thank you for your request made under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings
Act 1987 (the Act), received on 1 May 2020. You requested the fol owing information:
• The number of teams and number of personnel not operating during level 4 and level 3.
• What is the equivalent salary of the people currently off work that are getting paid.
As per my decision letter sent to you on 29 May 2020, I had confirmed that the Wel ington City
Council (the Council) granted your request for information at no cost.
Please note that we do not hold the information in the way you have requested because our
payroll information is based on fortnightly pay period that does not match the exact dates of the
COVID-19 Alert Levels. We are providing information based on pay periods that fel during the
COVID-19 Alert Level 4 and Alert Level 3 periods.
The Council had a number of teams that could not work during Alert Level 4 (Lockdown) and Alert
Level 3 (Restrict) as some services and facilities were not available or deemed essential services
under the Governments guidelines. For staff that were unable to work the Council looked for
alternative work options including redeployment into other areas that were operating, online
training and we also looked at providing some of our services online. If we were unable to provide
staff with work it was agreed we would provide paid discretionary leave for their ordinary hours.
I can advise that under COVID-19 Alert Level 4 (Lockdown), six business groups were impacted and
under Alert Level 3 (Restrict), four business groups were impacted.
During Alert Level 4 the teams that were impacted by the lockdown and unable to work remotely
included:
• Our Libraries and Community spaces within the Arts, Culture and Community business
group.
• A large proportion of our Pools and Recreation facilities and Operations teams and a
number of our Open Spaces and Parks team within our Parks, Sport and Recreation
business group.
• Our Parking Officer team within our Parking Services business group.
• Some staff in the Waste Operations team within the Resilience and Sustainability business
group.
• Some staff from within the Smart Council business group could not work from home.
• Some staff of City Consenting and Compliance team within the City Planning business
group could not work from home.
During COVID-19 Alert Level 3 we had four business groups impacted by the restrictions and
unable to work remotely. However, we saw some of our teams return to work sites. The following
teams continued to be unable to work due to services and facilities not operating:
• Our Libraries and Community spaces within the Arts, Culture and Community business
group.
• Our Pools and Recreation facilities staff within the Parks, Sport and Recreation business
group.
• Our Parking Officer team with in our Parking Services business group – these staff returned
to work on the 12 May 2020.
• Some staff in the Waste Operations team within the Resilience and Sustainability business
group.
Below is a breakdown of the information for staff who received paid discretionary leave. Please
note:
• This leave was applied to permanent and fixed term staff during Alert Levels 4 and 3 and
casual staff who had agreed rostered hours during Alert Level 4.
• The staff number represents the headcount and not the FTE number.
• The number of staff who took discretionary leave reduced over time as more staff returned
to work.
COVID-19 Date range for pay period
Number of personnel who Discretionary paid
Alert Level
took discretionary leave
leave
during the pay period
Level 4
*
27 March 2020 - 9 April 2020
714
$645,996
10 April 2020 - 23 April 2020
622
$422,724
Level 3#
24 April 2020 - 7 May 2020
565
$412,129
8 May 2020 - 21 May 2020
465
$262,418
* COVID-19 Alert Level 4 (Lockdown) period: 26 March 2020 – 27 April 2020.
# COVID-19 Alert Level 3 (Restrict) period: 28 April 2020 – 13 May 2020.
Right of review
If you are not satisfied with my response you have the right, under section 27(3) of the Act, to ask
the Ombudsman to review and investigate this matter. Further information is available on the
Ombudsman website, www.ombudsman.parliament.nz.
Thank you again for your request. If you have any further questions or seek clarification, please
contact me. I trust this information is of assistance to you.
Kind regards
Asha Harry
Assurance Advisor
Wellington City Council | 2 of 2
