Apology over job cuts at ACC

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ACC chief executive Jan White has apologised to staff after ACC Minister Nick Smith publicly announced looming redundancies before they knew about them.

On Wednesday, ACC workers were told of plans for 70 job losses at the Wellington head office as part of restructuring that would affect 180 staff, switching 100 to frontline services.

A day earlier in Parliament, Dr Smith said the corporation "this week will be announcing redundancies in the corporate office".

That prompted an email from Dr White apologising for the way staff "may have heard about this". She had intended, where possible, staff be told in person.

"We will continue to proceed with our planned approach tomorrow to ensure we treat people with dignity and respect."

Dr Smith said he did not take the email as an implied rebuke of his premature announcement.

"There was a bit of a miscommunication as to the timing."

He had understood staff were to be told on Tuesday before a public announcement on Wednesday.

"What I have subsequently found out is senior managers were advised Tuesday and general staff on Wednesday."

He said his comments had not taken things much further than was already on the public record. The Government had been critical of the expansion of head office under Labour.

- © Fairfax NZ News