HUNDREDS of workers have criticised how Essex Fire Service is being run.

The service commissioned an independent company to find out how engaged staff felt.

About half of the 1,500 staff who were questioned responded with the conclusion engagement is “very weak”.

The staff feel they are doing a good job for the service, but only one in four would recommend it as a place to work The fire service missed the target for the number of people proud to work there and the number who felt rewarded, or felt managed effectively.

Only 37 per cent felt involved and only 27 per cent thought change was managed well.

Only 13 per cent of workers at the fire service answered yes to the question: “Is it a better place to work than three years ago?”

Less than a quarter thought different parts of the service worked well together and less than one-in-five thought the service considered them when making decisions.

Alan Chinn-Shaw, Essex Fire Brigades’ Union branch secretary, said: “This should not come as a surprise. This is what we have been telling them for a while. Morale is at the lowest it has ever been.

“They say they are putting things in place to rectify this and make people feel rewarded, but they are not listening and they are not consulting.

“They are deciding what is best for the workforce and satisfaction is going down.

“This is an opportunity to engage with the FBU and work together to improve things, but they are still taking the attitude ‘we knowwhat is best for you’.”

A spokesman for the fire service said plans were being put in place to improve the relationship between staff and management.

A new employee engagement strategy action plan has been put together by the fire service to combat the problems.

It includes competency assessments and mentoring support for managers.

A reward and recognition strategy will be introduced and more consideration will be given to the impact on staff when major changed to the service are being considered.