Tweet
Kevin Rudd: working for me's a dog year By Steve Lewis and Alison Rehn From: The Daily Telegraph April 15, 2010 12:00AM
AS Labor staffers admit they're "f***ing exhausted", Kevin Rudd concedes he's a tough boss, saying 12 months in his employment is equal to seven canine years.
Mr Rudd and his ministers today emerged as Australia's most demanding bosses, with near-record staff burnout of almost 60 per cent in just over two years.
Despite Mr Rudd pledging to tear up former prime minister John Howard's hated WorkChoices, 262 ministerial staff - from a total of 444 positions - have departed since Labor came to office.
Responding to the figures published in The Daily Telegraph today, Mr Rudd made no apology for setting a demanding schedule for government staffers.
"It's a tough life. People often have to relocate, there are crazy hours, it's very intense, people are on the phone wanting X, Y and Z done in a short period of time," he said on radio.
"But I go back to the simple fact: We are elected by the Australian people to do a job.
"A staff working year is probably like a dog year, that is it's probably worth seven years in normal life.
"So if folks stay with me for three or four years, that's probably 28 or 30 years or more in actual time."
Three ministers have recorded staff turnover of more than 100 per cent, with Youth and Sport Minister Kate Ellis having 13 departures from a staff of 10. At least one was a part-time university student while several others left to have families.
The Prime Minister himself has lost 28 staff, with Government insiders describing his office as resembling a "transit lounge".
Some former staff are privately seething at his management style, claiming he can fly off the handle at a moment's notice.
The pace of Labor's 24/7 reform agenda has taken its toll. Deputy Prime Minister and Workplace Relations Minister Julia Gillard has lost 12 staff while Climate Change Minister Penny Wong has shed 14.
Newly appointed Population Minister Tony Burke has suffered an 81 per cent turnover, losing 13 staff.
The staff exodus shocked recruitment specialists who said the private sector "norm" was closer to 10 per cent per year.
"It's a very high number by any standard I am aware of," Australian Human Resources Institute president Peter Wilson said.
Brooklyn Group CEO Brian Russell also queried why Government advisers had left in droves.
'You shouldn't be having 100 per cent turnover in any team. If you've got autocratic management, lack of direction - basic fundamentals - especially in a small group, people will leave," he said.
"Every time you lose someone it costs the taxpayer huge money."
Veterans Affairs Minister Alan Griffin has seen 12 staff leave his office, a turnover of 108 per cent.
Minister for Ageing Justine Elliott has a similar turnover, after losing 13 of her employees.
Some of the departures can be explained by ministers receiving new duties. Special Minister of State Joe Ludwig has lost 12 of his staff, but he was transferred from the Human Services portfolio in mid-2009.
In total, 21 of Mr Rudd's 28 ministers, including himself, have suffered staff turnover rates of 50 per cent or more.
But several ministers have managed to retain almost all their loyal employees including Housing Minister Tanya Plibersek, who has shed just two advisers.
Families and Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin has lost just four staff, as has Financial Services Minister Chris Bowen.
Labor enforcer Anthony Albanese - who has multiple portfolios and is also Government Leader in the House - has retained all but four of his staff.
Innovation and Industry Minister Kim Carr recently lost the "core" of his political staff, including science adviser Andrew Reeves who left in February after nine years with the Victorian Labor Senator.
But Senator Carr is considered a good boss and some of his staff - such as electorate office manager Glen Kelly - have been on his payroll for more than 10 years.
The cost of replacing the lost staff is close to $800,000 based on parliamentary estimates - but long-term Labor loyalists say the "costs" can't be just measured in dollars and cents.
The exodus included long-serving ALP staffers who are simply "f...ing exhausted", according to one well-placed source.
Another Government insider said a major reason for the large numbers of departures was that Mr Rudd's election had attracted "blow-ins who thought it would be like an episode of West Wing".
Instead, many have found the work-and-life balance was almost non-existent and left for less stressful jobs in the private sector, the bureaucracy, or working for state Labor governments.
TOUGHEST BOSSES
* Early Childhood Education, Childcare, Youth, Sport Minister Kate Ellis 10 staff, 14 departures, turnover 140%
* Veterans' Affairs Minister Alan Griffin
11 staff, 12 departures, turnover 108%
* Ageing Minister Justine Elliot
12 staff, 13 departures, turnover 108%
* Climate Change & Water Minister Penny Wong
16 staff, 14 departures, turnover 87%
* Population, Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry Minister Tony Burke
16 staff, 13 departures, turnover 81%
* Special Minister of State Joe Ludwig
16 staff, 12 departures, turnover 75%
* Small Business, Independent Contractors & the Service Economy, Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs Minister Craig Emerson
12 staff, 9 departures, turnover 75%
* Finance & Deregulation Minister Lindsay Tanner
15 staff, 11 departures, turnover 73%
* Attorney-General Robert McClelland
13 staff, 9 departures, turnover 69%
* Trade Minister Simon Crean
15 staff, 10 departures, turnover 66%
* Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor
12 staff, 8 departures, turnover 66%
* Immigration and Citizenship Minister Chris Evans
17 staff, 11 departures, turnover 65%
* Indigenous Health, Rural & Regional Health, Regional Services Delivery Minister Warren Snowdon
12 staff, 7 departures, turnover 58%
* Innovation, Industry, Science & Research Minister Kim Carr
12 staff, 7 departures, 58%
* Assistant Treasurer Nick Sherry
10.5 staff, 6 departures, 57%
* Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith
13 staff, 7 departures, turnover 54%
* Prime Minister Kevin Rudd
53 staff, 28 departures, turnover 53%
* Health Minister Nicola Roxon
17 staff, 9 departures, turnover 52%
* Treasurer Wayne Swan
22 staff, 11 departures, turnover 50%
* Environment, Heritage & the Arts Minister Peter Garrett
16 staff, 8 departures, turnover 50%
* Defence Minister John Faulkner
16 staff, 8 departures, turnover 50%
BEST BOSSES
* Housing, Status of Women Minister Tanya Plibersek
13 staff, 2 departures, turnover 15%
* Families, Housing, Community Services, Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin
16 staff, 4 departures, turnover 25%
* Financial Services, Superannuation & Corporate Law, Human Services Minister Chris Bowen
14 staff, 4 departures, turnover 29%
* Transport & Regional Development, Infrastructure Minister Anthony Albanese
15 staff, 4.5 departures, turnover 30%
* Resources, Energy, Tourism Minister Martin Ferguson
13 staff, 4 departures, turnover 31%
* Deputy Prime Minister, Employment & Workplace Relations, Education, Social Inclusion Minister Julia Gillard
26 staff, 12 departures, 46%
* Broadband, Communications Minister Stephen Conroy
10.5 staff, 5 departures, turnover 48%
TOTAL STAFF: 444 (BASED ON FEB 2010 STAFF DIRECTORY)
Departures: 263.5
Percentage turnover: 59.3 per cent
** Based on Rudd Govt internal directories; staff numbers exclude Departmental Liaison Officers DLOs)**
Imagine working for these tyrants
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/new...-1225853812539
AS Labor staffers admit they're "f***ing exhausted", Kevin Rudd concedes he's a tough boss, saying 12 months in his employment is equal to seven canine years.
Mr Rudd and his ministers today emerged as Australia's most demanding bosses, with near-record staff burnout of almost 60 per cent in just over two years.
Despite Mr Rudd pledging to tear up former prime minister John Howard's hated WorkChoices, 262 ministerial staff - from a total of 444 positions - have departed since Labor came to office.
Responding to the figures published in The Daily Telegraph today, Mr Rudd made no apology for setting a demanding schedule for government staffers.
"It's a tough life. People often have to relocate, there are crazy hours, it's very intense, people are on the phone wanting X, Y and Z done in a short period of time," he said on radio.
"But I go back to the simple fact: We are elected by the Australian people to do a job.
"A staff working year is probably like a dog year, that is it's probably worth seven years in normal life.
"So if folks stay with me for three or four years, that's probably 28 or 30 years or more in actual time."
Three ministers have recorded staff turnover of more than 100 per cent, with Youth and Sport Minister Kate Ellis having 13 departures from a staff of 10. At least one was a part-time university student while several others left to have families.
The Prime Minister himself has lost 28 staff, with Government insiders describing his office as resembling a "transit lounge".
Some former staff are privately seething at his management style, claiming he can fly off the handle at a moment's notice.
The pace of Labor's 24/7 reform agenda has taken its toll. Deputy Prime Minister and Workplace Relations Minister Julia Gillard has lost 12 staff while Climate Change Minister Penny Wong has shed 14.
Newly appointed Population Minister Tony Burke has suffered an 81 per cent turnover, losing 13 staff.
The staff exodus shocked recruitment specialists who said the private sector "norm" was closer to 10 per cent per year.
"It's a very high number by any standard I am aware of," Australian Human Resources Institute president Peter Wilson said.
Brooklyn Group CEO Brian Russell also queried why Government advisers had left in droves.
'You shouldn't be having 100 per cent turnover in any team. If you've got autocratic management, lack of direction - basic fundamentals - especially in a small group, people will leave," he said.
"Every time you lose someone it costs the taxpayer huge money."
Veterans Affairs Minister Alan Griffin has seen 12 staff leave his office, a turnover of 108 per cent.
Minister for Ageing Justine Elliott has a similar turnover, after losing 13 of her employees.
Some of the departures can be explained by ministers receiving new duties. Special Minister of State Joe Ludwig has lost 12 of his staff, but he was transferred from the Human Services portfolio in mid-2009.
In total, 21 of Mr Rudd's 28 ministers, including himself, have suffered staff turnover rates of 50 per cent or more.
But several ministers have managed to retain almost all their loyal employees including Housing Minister Tanya Plibersek, who has shed just two advisers.
Families and Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin has lost just four staff, as has Financial Services Minister Chris Bowen.
Labor enforcer Anthony Albanese - who has multiple portfolios and is also Government Leader in the House - has retained all but four of his staff.
Innovation and Industry Minister Kim Carr recently lost the "core" of his political staff, including science adviser Andrew Reeves who left in February after nine years with the Victorian Labor Senator.
But Senator Carr is considered a good boss and some of his staff - such as electorate office manager Glen Kelly - have been on his payroll for more than 10 years.
The cost of replacing the lost staff is close to $800,000 based on parliamentary estimates - but long-term Labor loyalists say the "costs" can't be just measured in dollars and cents.
The exodus included long-serving ALP staffers who are simply "f...ing exhausted", according to one well-placed source.
Another Government insider said a major reason for the large numbers of departures was that Mr Rudd's election had attracted "blow-ins who thought it would be like an episode of West Wing".
Instead, many have found the work-and-life balance was almost non-existent and left for less stressful jobs in the private sector, the bureaucracy, or working for state Labor governments.
TOUGHEST BOSSES
* Early Childhood Education, Childcare, Youth, Sport Minister Kate Ellis 10 staff, 14 departures, turnover 140%
* Veterans' Affairs Minister Alan Griffin
11 staff, 12 departures, turnover 108%
* Ageing Minister Justine Elliot
12 staff, 13 departures, turnover 108%
* Climate Change & Water Minister Penny Wong
16 staff, 14 departures, turnover 87%
* Population, Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry Minister Tony Burke
16 staff, 13 departures, turnover 81%
* Special Minister of State Joe Ludwig
16 staff, 12 departures, turnover 75%
* Small Business, Independent Contractors & the Service Economy, Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs Minister Craig Emerson
12 staff, 9 departures, turnover 75%
* Finance & Deregulation Minister Lindsay Tanner
15 staff, 11 departures, turnover 73%
* Attorney-General Robert McClelland
13 staff, 9 departures, turnover 69%
* Trade Minister Simon Crean
15 staff, 10 departures, turnover 66%
* Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor
12 staff, 8 departures, turnover 66%
* Immigration and Citizenship Minister Chris Evans
17 staff, 11 departures, turnover 65%
* Indigenous Health, Rural & Regional Health, Regional Services Delivery Minister Warren Snowdon
12 staff, 7 departures, turnover 58%
* Innovation, Industry, Science & Research Minister Kim Carr
12 staff, 7 departures, 58%
* Assistant Treasurer Nick Sherry
10.5 staff, 6 departures, 57%
* Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith
13 staff, 7 departures, turnover 54%
* Prime Minister Kevin Rudd
53 staff, 28 departures, turnover 53%
* Health Minister Nicola Roxon
17 staff, 9 departures, turnover 52%
* Treasurer Wayne Swan
22 staff, 11 departures, turnover 50%
* Environment, Heritage & the Arts Minister Peter Garrett
16 staff, 8 departures, turnover 50%
* Defence Minister John Faulkner
16 staff, 8 departures, turnover 50%
BEST BOSSES
* Housing, Status of Women Minister Tanya Plibersek
13 staff, 2 departures, turnover 15%
* Families, Housing, Community Services, Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin
16 staff, 4 departures, turnover 25%
* Financial Services, Superannuation & Corporate Law, Human Services Minister Chris Bowen
14 staff, 4 departures, turnover 29%
* Transport & Regional Development, Infrastructure Minister Anthony Albanese
15 staff, 4.5 departures, turnover 30%
* Resources, Energy, Tourism Minister Martin Ferguson
13 staff, 4 departures, turnover 31%
* Deputy Prime Minister, Employment & Workplace Relations, Education, Social Inclusion Minister Julia Gillard
26 staff, 12 departures, 46%
* Broadband, Communications Minister Stephen Conroy
10.5 staff, 5 departures, turnover 48%
TOTAL STAFF: 444 (BASED ON FEB 2010 STAFF DIRECTORY)
Departures: 263.5
Percentage turnover: 59.3 per cent
** Based on Rudd Govt internal directories; staff numbers exclude Departmental Liaison Officers DLOs)**
Imagine working for these tyrants
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/new...-1225853812539
Comment