Orange City Council has launched the We Live Here. We Work Here. campaign reminding the community that council staff work for but are also part of the Orange community.
Council CEO Scott Maunder said most interactions between staff and the community are respectful and courteous.
"However, when they step outside what is acceptable, they can veer a long way into abuse and threatening behaviour. It is not acceptable in any workplace and in extreme cases council can refuse service. That's not an action we would take lightly but there is an important principle here that should be protected. Council staff have the right to feel safe at work like any other worker in any other workplace" Mr Maunder said.
Mr Maunder said the campaign did not mean that Council, councillors and staff were not above criticism.
"We have interactions with the community every day and we know not everything we do will be universally supported. But when those objections turn into profanities and threats shouted down the phone, yelled face to face or plastered across social media, then that crosses a line that is not acceptable" Mr Maunder said
"Our staff are resilient, patient and thick-skinned but that does not mean they should be bearing the brunt of anger and abuse. There are easy ways to raise issues with Council respectfully and politely."
Mr Maunder said council staff were a dedicated and focussed workforce.
"There will be those that claim their abuse of council is justified and they are just calling out a big bureaucracy. But council staff are people that work here and live here and turn up daily to do the best they can for the Orange community," Mr Maunder
"You might come across council staff at roadworks, across the customer service desk, life guarding at the pool or caring for your toddler in childcare. You might also come across council volunteering for a local footy team, queuing with you for groceries or walking their dog."
"Council staff work for the community, but they are also very much part of it. We're here to help but council staff have the right to call out bad behaviour and say that is unacceptable."
The first instalment of the We Live Here. We Work Here. series can be viewed on Council's Facebook page.
