The Guardian has published extracts from a leaked DWP survey of staff working on universal credit (UC) in which workers describe the project as ‘soul-destroying’ and ‘divisive’.{jcomments on}
The survey was carried out by a new management team trying desperately to get UC back on track, but responses have been largely negative.
One DWP staff member wrote that "I have never worked somewhere where decision making was so apparently poor at senior levels … and communications from that level was totally nonexistent. This programme should be a case study for how not to engage with your people to get the most out of them."
Other comments included:
"After 29 years of service this has been the most soul-destroying work I have done,"
"There is too much dishonesty and no one ever admits to making a mistake."
"This is the third review in 16 months, no rollout plans, no confidence in going forward and stakeholders losing confidence in our ability to deliver."
"There is a divisive culture of secrecy around current programme developments and very little in the way of meaningful messages for staff or stakeholders explaining what will happen and when."
One staff member even complained that the project was damaging people’s health.
Read the full story in the Guardian.
