Feedback from staff is that working at the Council is great and we are constantly trying to make it an even better place to work. We listen to our staff through the annual engagement survey to understand just how to do this. Here are just a few things you’ll find:

A great working environment
We have many diverse work places across the city, from our sports and recreation centres, libraries, and service centres to our new Civic building.

The Civic building provides a roomy, airy and modern working environment with showers, bike racks and many other features. The building has been awarded a 6 Green Star rating and a record 83 points, making it the greenest building in New Zealand. It really has the wow factor!

Working with a talented and diverse mix of people, who care about the community, makes each working day rewarding. We are proud that our work is interesting, varied and meaningful and is not primarily for profit.

A great social environment
We have a very active social club called MOA (The Municipal Officers Association), active since 1927. Not only does it arrange great events for staff, but it offers the use of three holiday houses across the South Island, membership of sports teams and use of the MOA bar and pool table.

We also offer all staff up to 20% membership discount on Council Sport & Recreation Leisure facilities around Christchurch.

Looking after our staff - life-work balance is key
We look after our staff and care about their wellbeing and running a free wellness programme is just one way we show this. Just a few of the benefits are flexible working hours and part-time work options where appropriate, staff discounts with local businesses, excellent health & safety systems and support, discounted health insurance and the Council Sick Benefit Society.

•  Free health checks – optional
Health checks involve a blood test followed up by a 20-minute consultation with a nurse to talk through the results. This is a chance for staff to have a health check with minimal effort and fuss. You can find out about your cardiovascular risks, your cholesterol, your body mass index, exposure of diabetes and other health risks.

•  On-site massage therapy
A massage therapist visits Civic offices every Thursday afternoon and offers discounted therapy sessions.

•  Free and subsidised skin checks
Free skin checks are made available for staff exposed to the sun as a regular part of their work. Other staff can choose to have a skin check at a subsidised rate.

•  Glasses for computer work
Staff who are with the Council for 12 or more months and who work with computers for more than four hours a day can have a two yearly eye check free of charge, and a contribution to spectacles, where a vision change has occurred.

•  Free annual flu vaccination

•  Group health schemes
These schemes are available at a discounted rate for Council staff although they are not subsidised by the Council.

•  The Sick Benefit Society
Membership enables staff access to assistance for medical, dental, optical, births, deaths, physiotherapy, acupuncture and more.

•  Making sure your pay is competitive
We have a remuneration framework that considers external market pay rates, performance and organisational parameters when reviewing pay. We also have a great Local Government KiwiSaver option for staff.

•  Helping you develop
Your career is one of the major journeys you take in life. The Council is a diverse and interesting place to work, and there are a range of different opportunities. Our toolkit ‘MyFuture’ helps our staff identify what they want from their career and plan how to get there. Here are just a few of the ways we encourage development:

• job shadowing
• study assistance
• development library
• career development workshops
• Learning & Development Programme and calendar
• short-term development opportunities (secondments and higher duties)
• workshops

• online courses

•  Acknowledging you great work
Recognising great performance and excellence is just another way of saying thank you. Our reward and recognition scheme allows us to acknowledge great work that goes the extra mile.