Government HR office facing reforms after unfair dismissal case

The review of the office of human resources was commissioned by the chief minister in May 2022

The Manx government's HR office is facing a raft of changes following a review commissioned after a £3.19m unfair dismissal pay-out.

The review was announced after an employment tribunal found Rosalind Ranson was dismissed after whistleblowing during the pandemic.

Recommended changes include installing a helpdesk, recruiting an advisory service team and a technology review.

Dr Ranson was the island's medical director between 2019 and 2022.

The report was set up following the tribunal's findings that Dr Ranson had been unfairly dismissed. She was later awarded £3.19m in compensation.

Dr Rosalind Ranson was the island's medical director between 2019 and 2022

The report, which was scheduled for completion in July 2022, has now been published after a bid by Claire Christian MHK to have it made public immediately after it was supported in Tynwald.

Chief Minister Alfred Cannan had attempted to have that delayed until April, when he said the government's full response would be ready.

During Wednesday's debate, Michelle Haywood MHK said at 18 months old the report was "becoming increasingly outdated" and there was "no real benefit in not sharing it while it still has some currency and some value".

A number of senior civil servants left their posts in the immediate aftermath of the tribunal's ruling, including the then head of the office of human resources, who said her resignation would allow the review to be done "comprehensively, objectively and with full transparency".

Alfred Cannan had called for the publication to be delayed

A separate review into the role and responsibilities of the chief secretary resulted in an overhaul of that post and the appointment of a new chief operating officer for the Cabinet Office in November, who is assisting with the response to the human resources report.

Independent reviews into the government's handling of tribunal and the pandemic itself are still underway.

Why not follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X? You can also send story ideas to [e-mail]