MidCentral District Health Board chief executive Kathryn Cook welcomes the news that MDHB has achieved the top ranking for the seventh year in a row, in the annual Human Rights Commission review of good employer obligations.
Ms Cook said it is wonderful to again achieve 1 ranking, along with 31 other Crown Entities out of 91 reviewed by the commission.
The commission reviews and analyses the reporting of good employer obligations by Crown Entities in their annual reports, and also monitors their progress towards equal employment opportunities, and providing good employer guidance.
MDHB achieved a 100 percent overall compliance in 2016 – the same it has achieved every year since 2010. The commission said overall compliance with the good employer reporting requirements is increasing nationally, with an average result of 90 percent last year, up 2 percent on the previous year.
The review said: “MidCentral DHB continues to report well and has again fully met its obligation to report its ‘good employer’ and EEO programme in its annual report. Those Crown Entities that report the best provide a table with each of the “Seven Good Employer Elements’ listed and initiatives identified against them. They also include a full workplace profile to demonstrate that all EEO groups have been considered.”
Ms Cook said MDHB remains committed to retaining its 1 ranking. “We take our role as an employer seriously and invest a lot of resources and time into staff – both on a group, and individual basis. We are committed to meeting our statutory, legal and ethical obligations, including providing equal employment opportunities. This is supported by our EEO policy, our good employer practices relating to recruitment, and our policies and procedures around having a safe and healthy working environment for our staff.”
She said the development of MDHB’s strategic framework was a key feature of our work in 2015/16. The framework will be supported by our organisational development strategy which will set out a clear vision of programme of work over the next three to five years to create the required international environment to support the achievement of our strategic imperatives.
Some other examples of the work done in the past year include:
• Two more transformational leadership programmes being held which staff have been able to apply learnings in their work.
• The board continued with its Medical Leadership introductory training development programme with 40 senior medical staff attending, and some now considering enhanced roles in the future.
• MDHB has been successfully encouraging more Maori students to consider health careers to increase Maori representation in staff numbers, and 200 people have registered in Kia Ora Hauora – a Maori workforce development programme.
• MDHB’s flexible working arrangement guidelines have allowed 879 staff (40 percent), to work part-time, and in the past year alone have allowed eight resident medical officers the ability to work part-time, and/or job share.
• MDHB is very proud of its healthy staff programme which offers staff activities and benefits including: a website where staff and their families can take part in health challenges and learn about healthy eating; a Next Steppers six-week fitness programme which has seen over 1000 staff involved; and a staff discount scheme, where organisations offer staff discounts and activities like free financial assistance.
Contact: Communications Unit (06) 350-8945