And it's Happy Christmas from Liverpool Direct Limited (LDL)
It seems that the latest attempt to tell staf working at the city council's controversial IT joint venture with BT how great their workplace is, has backfired.
As you can see by the picture, I have been supplied with the gizmos that were handed out to staff in an attempt to boost morale at Liverpool Direct Limited (LDL).
Staff were greeted with a message on the intranet stating: "Did you think Santa had arrived early this morning?
"Christmas is just around the corner but we are delighted to officially launch LDL's new internal scheme 'LDL is a Great Place to Work' and thanks to our 'Great Place to Work' Champions each member of staff across Liverpool Direct Limited has been treated to some goodies to mark the launch.
... "Whilst Liverpool Direct Limited already has a staff suggestion scheme; Bright Ideas, it is not to be confused wth Great Place to Work. The purpose of Great Place to Work is that the ideas submitted are not related to business performance."
Great, glad that's cleared up.
One LDL happy camper told me: "Nobody seems to know who dreamed up this idea, it's just another waste of public money."
20 Comments
Leave a comment
Dale Street Associates
David Bartlett
City editor of the Post and Echo covering politics, regeneration, and urban affairs.
Read My Posts »
Classic McElhinney. "If I say this is true, then it is true". Typically artless marketing gobbledegook - thinks a few cheap gimmicks, paid for by council taxpayers, are enough to 'transform' the reputation. Root and branch reform required, rottweiller. Starting with your head on a plate.
"Christmas is just around the corner but we are delighted to officially launch LDL's new internal scheme 'LDL is a Great Place to Work' and thanks to our 'Great Place to Work' Champions each member of staff across Liverpool Direct Limited has been treated to some goodies to mark the launch."
What?
I'm reminded of my time working at the CRB, where Capita always seemed to be under the impression that they were great employers, a misapprehension I was happy to correct during my terse exit interview.
Harsh, Robin, so very harsh. This is what the company says in its Annual Report:
"The Board would like to take this opportunity to thank all the talented employees who have played a key role in CapitaâÂÂs consistent growth. Their hard work, commitment and enthusiasm play a vital role in helping us to meet client expectations. In 1984, the Company had 2 employees.Today,we have over 36,000 whose combined contribution fuels the continued success of the Group. We are continuing to invest in senior management to support the growth going forward. In 2008,we recruited 62 senior managers taking our team to 433. We understand the importance of valuing our employees so that they, in turn are motivated and inspired to give their best ... reward success ... teamwork ... two-way communication ... open door policy ... blah blah blah" They even have an annual employee survey.
I'm sure LDL says much the same thing. You mean they don't always do as they say? I think I'll clutch my pearls and swoon!
Well done on this expose david
Ive said before and i will say again. LDL in years to come will be hung round the necks of this rancid failed administration in the same way that Militant was was labour for many years.
they are continuing to RIP OFF the taxpayers of the city, seemingly encouraged by a weak fag end admiinistration.
I hope you can find space for an echo story on this scandal david and not be intimidated by the phone call that is no doubt on its way
lest not be too harsh on the poor staff though, remeber the majority are LCC staff who have been forciby seconded to LDL and hate every minute of it
Any company that has to tell it's staff, they are working in a great place, obviously is not a great place to work.
The turnaround of staff for this type of work is high and the people I know that work at LDL actually hate the place.
Maybe spending the money on more useful things, such as decent working conditions, support from management instead of the dictatorship that exists within this place, would be of better use?
Or dare I say, giving the council back some of the promised money from this sham of a contract that is in place between LDL and Liverpool City Council?
But then, Bradley is now on the LDL board, so that's not very likely is it?
Polo makes an important point
of the maybe 10 people down the years ive known who have been forced by secondement to work for LDL to a man (or woman) they have despised every second of working there
from the oppressive management culture to their putting aswering calls for their "external contracts" above dealing with the council tax payers of the city
and lets not even start on "care"line
But but but... our Leader speaks (Oct 23, 2009):
[i]"At the prestigious âÂÂUK Excellence Awardsâ hosted by Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal, Liverpool Direct Limited claimed yet another victory by picking up the UK Excellence Awards 2009 - the Best Company of all the Regions.
After successfully winning the 'Award for Excellence' (for a private company with over 250 employees) at last monthâÂÂs North of England Excellence Awards, Liverpool Direct Limited was also crowned 'Best Company in the North of England.' Liverpool Direct Limited was automatically entered into the Best Company â Regional Award category at last nightâÂÂs award ceremony against the best in Britain and scooped the title.
The Leader of Liverpool City Council and Director of Liverpool Direct Limited, Warren Bradley, said: âÂÂTo win three high-status awards in a matter of weeks is in itself a huge achievement for Liverpool Direct Limited. To come back to Liverpool with the accolade of UK Business Excellence Award 2009 for Best Company of all Regions is the cherry on the cake. The staff of Liverpool Direct Limited have done a tremendous job and they should be delighted with this success. This award not only acknowledges the commitment they make, this is also a positive impact on performance and highlights the quality of the services it provides the citizens of Liverpool. This is a difficult award to win. ItâÂÂs rigorous and challenging and we won it!
We are definitely on a winning streak at the moment. ItâÂÂs a result of year on year improvement combined with hard work, determination and commitment from every single employee. This is huge achievement for all involved and we are delightedâÂÂ[/i]
the worst thing about this is the utter contempt it demonstrates for the workforce and the council taxpayers of liverpool. Mcelhinney seems to think that by coming up with this expensive marketing ploy he can con his own workforce into forgetting how bad things really are and continue to hoodwink the people who pay his wages ie the council taxpayers. These little gimmicks are just papering over the cracks of the rotting ediufice at Misadventure House. Why not ask an FOI question about how much this has all cost - they will probably respond with "it came out of the central admin budget", in other words 'the slush fund we use to hide our waste, profligacy and incompetence'. utterly disgraceful.
i reckon those little gonks could become collectors items soon. Mcelhinney must be laughing all the way to the bank
Bradley's comments are typically illiterate and ungrammatical.
When Bradley makes speeches like that praising Liverpool Direct for excellence awards, is he completely unaware that his senior managers within the council are engaged in a daily battle to try and find out what day by day invoices for hundreds of thousands of pounds are for? Now that he is on the board of directors, does this not represent a conflict of interest? If not why does he not demand that all accounts are properly thrown open to audit? Or better still end the accusations by inviting in the national audit commission. Is he afraid because of what may come out? If it is so damn good, prove it and tell us why they have charges us three times the high street retail price for every bit of out of date computer and will not replace them even though they are strangling your finances with lucrative annual maintenance charges costing twice the real value of the PC each year? After all, the deal is not his fault, it was Storey,our current Lord Mayor predecessor who let Henshaw and MacIllhinney cook this up. Probably the reason nobody seems able to deal with the scandal of Liverpool Direct is that if you want to ask them a single question from within the council, you have to supply a cost code. They will not allow the former council employees to speak to other members of the council workforce or give ny information all unless it involves hard cash. What's more, if any external cash job is worth more to them than what they are supposed to be doing for the city council they will prioritise it. McIllhinney is supposed to be still on secondment from Liverpool City Council, so why are they afraid o make him properly accountable for what he is charging his own authority?
I think the Liberal Democrats are terrified of a independent proper audit as it will show them as either less than honest or totally incompetent.
Do people actually realise how LDL screws money out of the council?
Imagine you used to have a receptionist in your office. That dealt with all enquires.
You take on the services of a new company transfer your receptionist over to them and they recharge for them sitting at your reception and anytime somebody knocks at the door they will deal with them for you.
Now imagine a visitor doesnâÂÂt knock, they ring the doorbell. Well that wasnâÂÂt in the specification, that will be an additional charge, but first they will charge you to carry out an impact study on how that will affect the time and workload of the employee and you will be charged for that study.
Imagine you want some information on how many enquiries you have had for the last quarter. Ahh well you didnâÂÂt ask for that, if you want us to submit reports on thatâÂÅ .
KERCHINNNNNNG!!!!!!! That will require another impact study and a report that will have to be paid for. But this is what the reception staff used to do as a normal part of their job you plead. Sorry, there will need to be a list of any information you want us to take. You will need to describe the format and types of enquiry. We will then estimate the cost for recording each piece of information. Oh okay dammit send us the bill.
Three months later, you havenâÂÂt had your reports. Oh you want us to provide actual reports as well as collect the information. Hmm that will require and impact studyâÂÅ yes yes, hereâÂÂs the cost codeâÂÅ whatever. Ahh but we may need to develop some web based technology to handle that type of enquiry, can you get us a cost code please?
Three months later, how is the technology going along to produce our reports?
Sorry, but when we costed up your request, it did not generate sufficient income and so you have been moved down the queue while we do some call centre advice work for victims of con merchants in the Basingstoke area. You may like to develop a similar service in Liverpool. No IâÂÂm sorry, but this is quite urgent you know! OK we will get somebody on to it. Now we will just need another cost code from you. What another one? WhatâÂÂs that for? Well we now have to set up a small working party to see if there is anything else for which we can charge you.
You know what? Get lost I will answer the door myself and get my own information, like we used to before you thieving sods came along.
Sorry Sir, but if you wish to stop using our service for any reason within the next eight years, you will have to pay us ã20,000,000. I can confirm that for you in writing if you supply me with a cost code for the letter, and a further cost code for us to do an impact study on the time required for the production of the letter.
LotâÂÂs of love LDL
Well done Lib Dems.
As for LabourâÂÅ .I donâÂÂt know how you are going to deal with this. But if you are serious, why donâÂÂt you just announce now that you will call in the National Audit?
I was elected in May 2006 and was given a second hand lap-top to use to access my council emails. It is not unreasonable to imagine that it was formerly used by Councillor Jimmy Kendrick who I defeated in that election. I do not know when he was given it. I am still expected to use it - in truth I use my own to access my council emails. I will be up for re-election in May 2010 and despite all the promises, that second hand lap-top, at the princely sum of ã2000 per annum, each annum, remains the IT tool of choice that LDL have chosen to bestow upon me. So the ã8k mark is fast approaching.
I look forward to hearing any member of the Administration truly defend this appalling state of affairs. Bring it on guys.
(I am happy to present said lap-top for examination to anyone requesting sight of same)
Good for you Louise.It brings shame upon the city as well as adding to the financial hardship but as has been said before, the front line staff of LDL work hard and in difficult circumstances and are not to blame for this disgrace.
By the way
I heard that "the little gonk" is their pet name for the council leader.
LDL had no right spoiling christmas for those staff. It is far too early to dish out presents and I'm very angry that LDL are opening the call centre again on christmas day.
Last year I couldn't get into one house because the owner was on the phone. She said "do you mind, I'm on the phone to that Liverpool Direct about my Council Tax and all i'm getting is music". I said, "but I am here for the childrens benefit". She said, "I've filled in all those benefit forms and taken them down the one stop shop, don't you know theres a backlog".
HO HO HO Merry Christmas to LDL staff and anyone else who has been banned from this blog.
Dashing Santa. xxx
It would seem that whatever they do, LDL get a kicking. If they do nothing they get 'Management don't care about staff'. If they make a small gesture issuing mouse mats and pens they get 'It's trite and insulting'. If they spent a load of money on a xmas party they get 'Waste of Council Taxpayer's money' etc.
But guess what? EVERY company does this sort of thing day-in day-out. Funny how you don't get onto anyone else.
And LDL IS actually a great place to work. Well it is for people who make an effort. Staff attrition rates are exceptionally low which says a lot for satisfaction. And there is never any shortage of applicants for LDL vacancies.
My advice to anyone who doesn't like it there, leave. Most of the people who whinge about LDL wouldn't last 2 minutes in private industry.
And LDL has done far more for the working population, business, the disadvantaged, vulnerable children and adults in this city than the Echo and Daily Post (who seem hell bent on rubbishing everything good that happens in this great City) ever could.
In my humble experience.
Razzle, lets put aside for a second that if you think in the face of everything to the contray LDL is a good thing you need medical help
Lets just look at the latest example of the mega-lo-mania of the good dr
his company get criticism, wholly deserved and he BANS a local journs blog so staff cant read it!!
You could not make this sort of stuff up.
LDL= the lib dems militant
LDL is a great place to work, if your name is MacIllhinney.
Fuddle Duddled, lists a load of things nobody has complained about and avoids mentioning all the points raised in the comments. Then with nothing to challenge what has actually been said, or the sense of humour to appreciate the actual blog post, Razzle Fuddled turns it into an attack on the Echo and Post - No case to answer abuse plaintiff, as the saying goes.
So according to Razzle, the staff who complain frequently at LDL are just the ones who don't try hard enough. Razzle uses in their defence that jobs for LDL have lots of applicants, so it's obviously a GREAT place to work (not withstanding the 55,000 people out of work in Liverpool at present who would take any job). And I love Razzle's solution for staff who aren't happy: "Leave".
Because it really is that easy...
David Bartlett ..."City editor of the Liverpool Daily Post and Echo covering politics, regeneration, and urban affairs" "... gives his insight into the workings of regional politics"
Mousemats and gonks.