The final decisions document, seen by the Herald, details advice to staff on next steps, including the idea of moving to Australia or considering retirement.
Interim chief executive Dr Ashley Bloomfield said it had been a “very challenging time” with a decrease in funding.
Scientists and researchers working for the Government have been offered support to move to Australia, set up their own consulting business, or embark on a new retirement “adventure” as the agency looks to cut costs.
An overall 40 roles will be lost – around 7% of the current workforce.
The final decisions document sent to staff, seen by the Herald, shows workers are able to get advice on moving to Australia, leaving the workforce entirely, or getting set up to start a new role.
Coaching modules available to staff also include reviewing CVs and cover letters, helping people prepare for interviews, and advice on optimising a LinkedIn profile.
The specialist support includes help applying for jobs across the Tasman.
“There are many things to think about, including understanding visa requirements, cost of living, the job market, preparing a tailored resume, leveraging job search platforms, networking and being ready to adapt to a new cultural and environmental landscape,” the document reads.
“Before you take the leap – consider your options, be prepared, gain insight to what preparation needs to be made and be ready to apply for your next opportunity.”
Staff are also able to access advice on retirement and “transitioning to your next work-life balance adventure”, the document confirms.
“Whether you envision a part-time career, pursuing a long-held hobby, or dedicating time to family and community, Next Steps coaching will empower you to create your transitioning to retirement plan.”
A module is also available to support those eyeing up starting a small business, transitioning to self-employment, or “launching a consulting practice”.
“Whether you’re looking to turn a passion into profit, establish yourself as a consultant, or understand the fundamentals of entrepreneurship, this session will provide practical insights and actionable steps to get started,” the document reads.
Employees are able to access up to seven hours of coaching, alongside online resources.
In a statement, interim chief executive Sir Ashley Bloomfield said ESR has been taking steps “to remain financially sustainable, while continuing to deliver critical science services that New Zealand needs”.
Staff will find out whether their role is being disestablished before Christmas, but the new structure isn’t expected to come into force until January 20.
“No staff are being made redundant before Christmas, although final decisions will be made and communicated before Christmas,” Bloomfield said.
The former Director-General of Health added it was a “very challenging time”, and said ESR was committed to supporting staff through this change.
Sir Ashley Bloomfield was the Director-General of Health during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The all-staff document confirms the organisation is merging its health and environment groups into a “health security” directorate and is reducing team sizes.
Bloomfield told staff that ESR has had financial challenges – difficulties he said were “largely but not solely related to the decrease in Covid-19-related funding”.
The document also references the possibility of further job cuts in the forensics team.
“It should be noted that NZ Police has its own funding challenges, including expectations to make ongoing savings, and there could be a future impact on the Forensic Group’s revenue,” workers were told.
There will be no reduction in the overall number of systems engineers and developers, after scathing feedback. During consultation, some ESR workers suggested reducing the headcount in the IT team could potentially introduce “the risk to critical systems and service delivery”.
Public Service Association acting national secretary Fleur Fitzsimons slammed the cuts.
In a statement to NZME, Fitzsimons said the people whose jobs were being axed are “experienced scientists, technicians and support staff who had more to give New Zealand and ESR”.
Fitzsimons said the advice “really brings home how harsh the cuts for science are”.
“The reality is that the job losses do mean we will lose experienced scientists and technicians to Australia and it’s clear employers understand this. It is really only the Government who still fail to understand just how damaging their cuts are and that Australia is the only winner in all of this.”
Further cutbacks are on the horizon for the wider public sector in the new year and beyond.
Azaria Howell is a Wellington-based multimedia reporter with an eye across the region. She joined NZME in 2022 and has a keen interest in city council decisions, public service agency reform and transport.
