In 2016, the Council undertook an Employee Engagement Survey. This survey identified “empowerment” as a key issue for staff across the Council, including within the Strategy and Public Affairs (SPA) Division. As a follow up, the division has created an Empowerment Action Plan which includes a one-day divisional retreat to discuss work culture and values in SPA, as well as possible follow-up training/workshops for managers and staff.
The goal of the SPA divisional retreat is to foster a healthy workplace and culture of empowerment by consolidating positive aspects of work culture and addressing issues that might inhibit empowerment in SPA.
Desired outcomes of the retreat:
· The development of a Charter of SPA values: The retreat will serve as a starting point for discussion that will lead to the creation of a Charter of Values. A draft structure of the charter has been prepared.
· The development of a sense of empowerment: Staff will acquire knowledge on empowerment and feel a sense of heightened engagement and solidarity guided by a shared vision through stimulating discussions during the retreat.
The Firm will provide expertise and assistance in planning and facilitating a one-day retreat, planned for May 2018. The retreat should have a combination of exercises and small group discussions. It will be essential that there is a clear definition and common understanding of what is meant by “empowerment” in a work context.
The Firm will review key documents and conduct interviews/attend meetings with the staff working group and the Management Team to finalize plans for the retreat.
Following the retreat, the Firm will prepare a report on the results and overall success, including any recommendations for next steps. The Firm will also prepare a proposal for follow-up training sessions on employee empowerment with staff and managers.
