Working at Bayside

As an organisation we share a set of values and behaviours that provide a work environment in which every staff member is treated with respect, and has the opportunity to contribute to the success of the organisation while realising their own potential. This means we harness the unique skills and abilities that each individual brings to the organisation.

Through project and focus groups staff developed the shared values and behaviours. The six values are:-

• Respect

• Creativity

• Accountability

• Adaptability

• Achievement

• Connected

These are outlined further in the attached document. Working together at Bayside

About the corporate centre

• The Corporate Centre is open to the public from 8:30am to 5pm, from Monday to Friday.
• Staff member’s have access to permit parking within the Corporate Centre carpark, or all day parking on Royal Avenue.  Staff also receive a Bayside Beach Parking Permit allowing them to park in all the beach carparks.
• Sandringham train station is a 15-minute walk, or you can catch the 600-bus from the station as it stops outside the Corporate Centre.
• A modern lunchroom equipped with a television, microwave, coffee and snack machines and courtyard facilities is available to staff.
• Access to a locked bike storage facility, along with lockers to store personal items.
• Shower facilities

Corporate health program

• The Corporate Health Program is designed to provide staff with the opportunity to participate in a monthly activity.  Activities are chosen each year to monitor and enhance staff health and wellbeing and at the same time introduce staff to a variety of  different methods used to achieve good health, wellbeing and fitness.  Examples of activities include:
  - Healthy eating, alternative medicine, men's and women's health and many more one hour lunch time seminars
  - Blood pressure and cholesterol checks
  - Neck and shoulder massage
  - Skin check, to monitor sun damage
  - Free annual Flu vaccination
  - Participation in the Australian Corporate Games
  Activities are also held at our Library branches and Child Care Centres.
  
  
• Council's commitment to becoming an employer of choice involves the ongoing health and wellbeing of our staff, with the result being a more productive workplace.  Council recognises that healthy workplaces require a high level of commitment towards staff safety and job satisfaction.  It also recognises that providing an environment that combines work with social interaction enables staff to achieve their full potential.

Salary sacrifice

Council's Salary Sacrifice Scheme gives staff the option to "sacrifice" part of their cash salary into additional superannuation contributions. 

Salary sacrifice is also available

Family friendly initiatives

• Council is committed to providing flexible work arrangements that support staff members in meeting their family commitments and balancing their work with non-work commitments, subject to operational needs and service delivery requirements being maintained and also having regard to cost implications for Council.

• The following family friendly initiatives form part of the Bayside Workplace Agreement
  - 48/52 employment;
  - Job share;
  - Leave without pay;
  - Home based work arrangements;
  - Pressing necessity leave;
  - Nursing mothers;
  - After hours dependent care;
  - Child care;
  - Cultural and ceremonial leave;
  - Return to work after extended leave; and
  - Parental leave.
  All of the above initiatives are approached on an individual employee basis, to meet the needs of both the employee and their department.

Opportunities for life-long learning

Council supports and encourages staff to complete further training and development.

Council offers staff a comprehensive program of training courses delivered in-house and the opportunity to attend external workshops and seminars.

In addition staff are able to apply to complete further study at certificate, diploma, degree or post graduate level. Subsidies are available for course fees as is the option of salary packaging.

The training and development opportunities available mean that staff can learn new skills to assist them in their current position with Council and with their future career development.

Performance plans

• All staff members participate in Council's Performance Plan process.  In 2005, the process was completely reviewed and a move to a more effective Performance Plan process is now in place.  Performance Plans allow staff to work with their Manager to set goals to obtain results linked to the overall Council goals as outlined within the Council Plan, and to identify training and development needs.

Social club

• We are very proud of our wonderful Social Club and its healthy membership rates.  A Calendar of Events is produced each year including the Bayside Social Club Christmas Party, Twilight Bowling, Gold Class Cinema night, BBQ lunches, Social Club evenings each month and many more events, all for a small fortnightly contribution by staff arranged via Payroll.
  
  
• Through the Social Club staff members can also access discounts for gym memberships and movie tickets.

Recognition of accrued leave from previous employment (long service and sick leave)

• Where a new staff member has prior service (within the past 12 months) at a Victorian Local Council, the accrued Long Service Leave balance may be transferred to Bayside. Up to a maximum of 20 days sick leave can also be transferred to Bayside. Any transfer of Long Service Leave will be made in accordance with the Local Government (Long Service Leave Regulations) 2002.
  
  
• In the case of Victorian State Government Departments, Bayside has in place reciprocal agreements for the transfer of Long Service Leave. Sick Leave is not transferable. Similarly these agreements are also in place with some state government instrumentalities. However, unlike staff from another Victorian Local Council, there is no requirement for Bayside to recognise prior service from interstate local councils, State or Federal governments, or private sector organisations.
  
  
• To check if a you will be eligible to transfer your Long Service Leave balance to Bayside please contact the Human Resources Unit on 9599 4380.

Accessible Bayside 

Council will continue to create and maintain an accessible and inclusive environment for staff and the Bayside community.

Through a whole of Council approach it will strive towards: -

• Every person whatever their needs and circumstances, having the opportunity to develop their full potential and to participate in all aspects of work and community life.
• Recognising the uniqueness and diversity of all individuals and the role they play in enriching our society.
• Every person being valued within Bayside.
• In the case of employment with Bayside, giving due consideration to any reasonable specific adjustments necessary to the workplace to accommodate a staff member.

Environmental sustainability

In August 2007 Council released the latest edition of the Bayside Environmental Sustainability Framework. The Framework guides Council in its work with the Bayside community by helping it to achieve more environmentally sustainable outcomes.

Bayside joined Cities for Climate Protection™ (CCP) in August 2001. CCP™ is an innovative international campaign that helps local government and their communities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and their impact on the environment.  In Australia,  CCP™ is delivered through a collaboration between ICLEI-A/NZ and the Australian Government through the Australian Greenhouse Office, Department of the Environment and Water Resources. Being a member of CCP™ is part of its broad commitment by Council to making our part of the world as sustainable as possible.

Council staff are also helping to achieve more environmentally sustainable outcomes. They are doing this through the following strategies:

• Throughout all council offices recycling bins are provided for paper, glass, tin and aluminium.  Printers  have been upgraded to allow double-sided printing and staff are encouraged to recycle their paper for  drafts, incoming faxes and note paper.
• There is a worm farm located in the Corporate Centre courtyard that allows staff to compost leftovers from  their lunches. 
• With the assistance of Eco-Buy council is making every effort to purchase green and recycled products  where possible, this is most evident in our use of recycled products for road works and park facilities.   Staff members are encouraged to source green and recycled products where possible and audits are  conducted regularly to monitor our success.
• Council’s Vehicle Fleet Policy helps to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions through the purchase of  vehicles with a smaller engine capacity, or vehicles that run on more environmentally friendly fuel such as  LPG.
• The Sustainable 16 is a group of Bayside staff dedicated to reducing the environmental impact of Council's day-to-day operations. Sustainable 16's job is to investigate how we can do more at Council while using less of our precious resources, and to provide information and advice to other staff on practical actions to lighten Council's footprint on the Earth.
• Staff who cycle to work can access a secure bike shed located in the garages at the rear of the Corporate  Centre in Royal Avenue.