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Staff shortages

By James (Secretary) Dunton Park Residents' Association

Tuesday, 23 April 2024

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Dunton Park Residents' Association Contributor

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A number of people have asked us if we can approach the new company about hiring residents as grounds-staff. Previously Royale had a policy of not allowing residents to work on their sites (although we're aware this wasn't consistent and there are examples where people living on site worked there too).

We have received the following reply -

"At Regency Living, we adhere to a policy similar to what the previous company had in place. We do not hire residents as on-site staff, and I'd be happy to explain the rationale behind this decision.

While having on-site staff can indeed offer certain benefits, such as coverage during weekends and evenings for emergencies like resetting electric DU boxes, we have identified several potential risks associated with employing residents for these roles.

Confidentiality is a significant concern. Residents who are also staff members may inadvertently be exposed to sensitive personal information about their neighbours, which could compromise privacy and confidentiality standards if not managed properly.
Furthermore, there's a risk of conflicts of interest arising when a staff member develops personal relationships with certain residents. This could lead to perceptions of favouritism or unfair treatment among residents, impacting the overall harmony of the community.

Maintaining objectivity and professionalism can also be challenging when a staff member is part of the community they serve. This could potentially affect their ability to make impartial decisions or prioritise their duties effectively.
In addition to these concerns, legal and compliance issues may arise, including questions about fair employment practices, conflicts of interest, and privacy regulations.

While we acknowledge the benefits of having on-site staff, we believe it's essential to prioritise the well-being and harmony of the entire community. Therefore, we've chosen to maintain our policy of not hiring residents as staff members".

I see lots of examples where residents working on a site works perfectly well - in fact it's quite benificial. Any concerns are simply mitigated by terms in employment contracts, so I don't agree with this response at all. However, we have no influence over company policy so there's not much we can do.

Contact Information

James (Secretary)

Find Dunton Park Residents' Association

Dunton Park, Lower Dunton Road, Brentwood, Essex, CM13 3GE

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