10 February 2025
John Smith
By email: [FYI request #29619 email]
Tēnā koe Mr Smith
Re:
Information request
Our ref:
E24HDC01681
Thank you for your email of 19 December 2024 requesting:
“(i) For years 2016 -2024 how many (formal and verbal) personal grievances
have been laid at the office of the Health and Disability Commissioner. Please
provide the numbers per year.
(ii) How many of these grievances were from the Auckland and Wellington
offices.
(iii) How many of these grievances are for workplace bullying. Please provide
the numbers per year.
(iv) How many of these grievances were settled and the amount paid out for
each grievance.
(v) For years 2016 -2024 please provide the legal fees paid to legal
professionals outside the office for issues relating to employment relations and
personal grievances.
(vi) For years 2016 -2024 please provide the staff turnover rates for the
complaint assessment team and for the investigation team.”
We have considered your request under the Official Information Act 1982.
Please find the responses to the information requested below.
For years 2016 -2024 how many (formal and verbal) personal grievances have been
laid at the office of the Health and Disability Commissioner. Please provide the
numbers per year. How many of these grievances were from the Auckland and
Wellington offices.
Auckland Office: P O Box 1791 Auckland 1140; Wel ington Office (new address): PO Box 245, Wel ington 6140
Freephone: 0800 11 22 33; Email: [Health and Disability Commissioner request email]; Website: www.hdc.org.nz
2
Calendar year
Auckland
Wellington
Total
2024
1
1
2023
1
1
2020
1
1
2019
2
2
2016
1
1
Grand Total
3
3
6
How many of these grievances are for workplace bullying. Please provide the
numbers per year.
The personal grievances received involved a range of issues. Due to this we are not
able to collate this information, and we refuse this aspect of your request pursuant to
s 18 (e) of the Official information Act 1982.
How many of these grievances were settled and the amount paid out for each
grievance.
Calendar year of
Settlement
settlement
amount ($)
2024
16,000
2023
7,555
2020
8,442
2019
4,064
2019
59,206
2016
30,510
For the years 2016 – 2024 please provide the legal fees paid to legal professionals
outside the office for issues relating to employment relations and personal
grievances
Please note that HDC does not keep separate records of the legal fees paid externally
related specifically to personal grievances. The totals below are the total paid for
advice related to HR issues, this includes a range of employment matters such as
advice around restructuring, policies, and other employment issues.
Calendar year
Legal fees ($)
2024
33,986
2023
1,719
2022
1,786
2020
5,016
3
2019
17,716
2018
5,320
2017
2,443
2016
17,761
For the years 2016 – 2024 please provide the staff turnover rates for the complaint
assessment team and for the investigation team
Calendar Year
CAT
Investigation
2024
18%
20%
2023
10%
40%
2022
36%
13%
2021
40%
26%
2020
14%
10%
2019
38%
10%
2018
25%
26%
2017
43%
38%
2016
26%
23%
HDC is a small organisation, so a small absolute increase or decrease in the number of
staff leaving HDC can greatly affect our turnover rate. Our staff turnover rate reflects
the labour market current at the time, HDC's funding levels, the demographics and
career stage of our employees, and other pressures. Complaints resolution by its
nature can be challenging, involving sensitive subject matter and highly distressed
people. This can have an impact on staff turnover. HDC actively works to support its
staff to deal with these challenges, including provision of an Employee Assistance
Programme, and professional supervision.
You may seek a review of this decision from the Office of the Ombudsman.
Nāku iti noa, nā
Alice Coventry
Acting Associate Commissioner Legal
