Deputy Governor Franz Manderson has issued the following statement in response to recent allegations in the media about civil servant employment contracts and reports of wrongdoing.
The statement is as follows:
I am aware of recent media reports regarding allegations of assault by a female MP against female civil servants attending an official event on 13 September.
I am also aware of conversations in the media which have suggested that civil servants’ employment contracts limit the ability of civil servants to report matters to the police or other official reporting bodies, which is incorrect. Our workplace rules allow and encourage reporting of wrongdoing.
As Head of the Civil Service, I want to make it clear that we are committed to ensuring the safety of our employees and protecting their rights, including their right to report wrongdoing. The Civil Service has zero tolerance for misconduct.
The allegations of the attack on 13 September are under investigation by the RCIPS, as confirmed by their statement on 14 September, so I am unable to comment further on the matter at this time. I will continue to exercise a duty of care to all civil servants and will not abrogate my responsibility to provide a safe working environment where they feel cared for, protected and comfortable giving feedback including to senior management.
