A former police crisis negotiator and personal protection officer has been delivering conflict management training to Waipā District Council staff and elected members.
Lance Burdett, who now works for Wellness, Awareness, Resilience and Negotiation (Warn) International was described as “the most qualified and highly skilled negotiator within NZ Police” when he left after 22 years to start his own business.
He trained with the FBI and now runs workshops on how to overcome workplace pressure and stress.
Lance Burdett
News of his work with Waipā was included in a Human Resources report to the council’s Finance and Corporate committee this week after The News went to print.
Waipā employs 332 full time equivalent staff members in 46 business units.
The report also revealed there was a higher percentage of council staff who access the free and confidential Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) for help with workload, relationships with co-workers and working conditions than other workplaces using the service.
Issues such as career concerns and relationships with managers were lower than other EAP registered workplaces, said Human Resources Operations manager Clark Collins.
Just under a quarter of the issues the EAP provider dealt with were work-related, the rest were personal.
“In terms of personal issues, anxiety remains the most common concern, although it is now reported at a higher level than among other clients of our EAP provider.”
Waipa District Council
The council also uses Rongoā Māori support services to provide additional support for staff.
Rongoā Māori is a traditional Māori healing system that encompasses a wide range of practices, focusing on the holistic nature of health and wellbeing.
Health and wellness at Waipā came under the spotlight last year when the council revealed staff had been threatened by the public which prompted security measures at its Te Awamutu and Cambridge offices.
Earlier this year mayor Susan O’Regan was the subject of threats on social media. An effigy of her in a wheelbarrow was left on the corner of Wilson and Victoria streets.
Staff underwent safety training.
