Go to the pub, homes group tells its staff
A housing association in the Black Country has come under fire after telling staff to go to the pub during work time.
A housing association in the Black Country has come under fire after telling staff to go to the pub during work time.
Staff who work for Accord have been ordered to come up with "weird and wonderful" ways to improve services for 10,000 residents.
The not-for-profit organisation receives taxpayer subsidies to house people with mental health problems and the elderly. It also provides social housing for families. Among the workers being told to go to the pub and play games are those at the company's West Bromwich and Rowley Regis branches.
They have been banned from drinking alcohol while they are there but bosses want them to work in a relaxed environment.
But the scheme has been criticised by campaign group the TaxPayers' Alliance.
Chief executive Matthew Elliott said: "This is yet another baffling gimmick that will merely serve to distract staff and cost taxpayers' money that should be spent helping the most vulnerable weather the economic storm.
"If these publicly-funded bodies are serious about improving services, they would stop wasting money in the pub and get on with their jobs in the office."
Where there isn't a nearby hostelry, the housing group's Resident Engagement Team is bringing the pub to the office with bar snacks, ginger beer and games. People pitch their ideas to each other and vote on which will work and which will not.
The best ideas will be adopted by the Accord Group, which includes Accord, Ashram and Moseley & District housing associations, as well as bchs, Fry Housing Trust and Redditch Co-op Homes.
Sara Woodall, director of Accord's corporate housing services, said: "People tend to think more creatively when they are out of the normal office environment.
"It's a great way of getting new ideas from people who don't normally deal with residents and who have a fresh perspective.
"We've held four sessions so far and they have been a huge success with some absolutely brilliant suggestions. People have really enjoyed pitching their ideas."
Ideas so far include giving residents a disposable camera to record the good and the bad things about where they live, staff and residents swapping places for the day, and setting up social networking sites run by residents.
