May 10, 2010
Thirteen jobs may be shed from ESR’s Environmental Health group. Staff are being consulted with final decisions expected in the next few weeks.
General Manager, Environmental Health, Dr Fiona Thompson-Carter, said that most of ESR’s operating costs were personnel related. “In response to decreased funding from government contracts and reduced research funding we have been forced to look at downsizing our Environmental Health area.”
Affected staff could be offered redeployment or have the opportunity to apply for another role within ESR.
The Environmental Health Group provides scientific advice and operational services primarily to the public sector. Key clients include the Ministry of Health and the New Zealand Food Safety Authority. Services provided include communicable disease surveillance and laboratory testing, scientific analysis and advice for the New Zealand Food Safety Authority and water management research and services. ESR is working hard to try to minimise any effects to critical national reference services and outbreak response as a consequence of downsizing.
At the end of the last financial year (June 30, 2009) ESR employed 374 full-time equivalent staff. Twenty-four positions across the organisation have since been lost through retirements, resignations, flexible working arrangements and a four earlier redundancies in Environmental Health.
The forensic group, which provides scientific services primarily to the New Zealand Police, is not affected by the proposals.