Council staff's hopes of some Christmas cheer hit a brick wall
Dundee City Council officials have been accused of being ''killjoys'' after telling staff they are not allowed to put Christmas decorations on the walls at Dundee House.
- By Alan Wilson
- Published in the Courier : 22.11.11
- Published online : 22.11.11 @ 08.33am
Council staff have been upset at the ruling, saying the traditional decorations help brighten up the atmosphere at work and have accused bosses of lacking the Christmas spirit.
The council has denied there is a ban on decorations and says staff can have decorations on their desks — during their working hours.
It is understood senior management put out the instruction to staff at the end of last week. It was immediately the talk of the workforce, some of whom were so annoyed they contacted The Courier to complain.
One staff member, who asked not to be named, said: ''We got told we're not allowed to hang any decorations up in case it damages the paintwork. That's fair enough, but there are plenty of ways to hang decorations without damaging anything.
''We were hoping to start putting up the decorations this week to brighten the place up and get everybody in the mood for Christmas but they're not letting us now.
''It's just the usual stuff from management — they're total killjoys, they've got no Christmas spirit at all. If it was up to them we'd all be working right through the holidays as well.''
Another female worker said: ''We always had decorations up before. This is just ridiculous. These people are getting paid to sit around a table and think up things to stop us doing.
''What's the reason for this? Health and safety? That's always the excuse for things that don't make any sense. Will they be banning the secret Santa stuff from the office now as well?''
A Dundee City Council spokesman said: ''There is no ban on Christmas decorations for staff in Dundee House. A tree and decorations are being put up in the main public reception on the ground floor.
''Employees can put decorations on their desks during the working day subject to the 'clear desk' policy required for hot desking. In order to protect the internal finishes in Dundee House, no paper or objects of any kind can be pinned or stuck to the walls at any time of year.''
► According to Dundee Civic Trust, Dundee House needs all the help it can get to improve its appearance.
In a recent editorial (link), the trust described the new £34 million council HQ as "supremely ugly".
01.26pm - 22.11.2011 Live from the Capital - Edinburgh, Scotland Report This
Some Dundee folk need to get with the times. You'll find in most newbuilds that companies won't let you put stuff up on the walls and I know this from working in Dundee and Edinburgh. Count yourselves lucky that you're getting to decorate your desks, we're not allowed anything.
03.15pm - 22.11.2011 Steve Scott - Dundee, Scotland Report This
And if they did put up the decorations, we'd be reading that the staff would be complaining that the paint was peeling in January...
03.56pm - 22.11.2011 Jim Wallace - Dundee, Angus Report This
I am surprised with the current cutbacks, council staff have time to put up Xmas decorations, also are council tax payers having to foot the bill for the decorations, few will see? Councillors you have some serious questions to ask.
06.09pm - 22.11.2011 Duly Noted - Portstewart, UK Report This
When we (DCC staff) were allowed to put up Christmas decorations, staff clubbed together to buy them. Definitely not bought with Council Tax payer's money - nor should they have been. Also, decorations were put up in our own lunch-times, not as part of the working day. Urban myths prevailing I see.
12.44pm - 23.11.2011 Live from the Capital - Edinburgh, Scotland Report This
@Jim Wallace. What a silly thing to say, was council tax money used to purchase Christmas decorations? Have a word with yourself.
01.29am - 24.11.2011 Paul_the_Plasterer - Blairgowrie, Scotland Report This
Anyone got a mountaineers bolt gun so the office workers can hang decorations on the lovely concrete ceilings?
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