The States said in a response to a freedom of information request last month that it had no criteria, policies or guidelines in place to block the employment of contractors or former direct staff at Agilisys who had worked with the States.
‘The States’ recruitment priority is always seeking the best candidate for the role, with relevant background and proven experience able to be validated,’ it said.
Staff from the firm, which was working on a 10-year, £200m. contract with the States until the contract was cancelled this summer over performance issues, have said they do not believe this.
They said that skilled local employees were ‘shut out’, some were denied interviews for roles which they had previously held, or were taken off projects for which they were best qualified.
One was offered a zero hours contract but was later told that there was no work available.
And in some cases, they claim, former Agilisys employees who were employed by third parties that were taken on by the States were told that they could not work on States projects.
‘Frankly, the suggestion that this recruitment process has been fair is bogus and, for many of those affected, it’s felt like a real gut punch,’ said Agilisys Guernsey people partner Fiona Phillips.
‘Having worked closely with many of these individuals, I know the depth of their experience and the value they bring.
‘The island has invested heavily in developing its digital skills base. It makes no sense to waste that knowledge and experience at the exact moment Guernsey is trying to stabilise its new IT model.’
Nobody was looking for special treatment, only fair consideration based on skill and contribution, she said.
But instead talented local professionals were being sidelined. ‘And that serves neither the individuals nor the public services they helped to build.’
The contract with Agilisys ended in July and at that time the company employed 41 local staff, 19 of whom were within a States-owned ‘special purpose vehicle’ and transferred back to the States and 22 were under Agilisys contracts.
Of that 22, 14 were offered or appointed to new roles within the States.
Nine accepted the jobs but were taken on as ‘new starters’, meaning that despite their previous service, they had to serve a probationary period and their length-of-service benefits did not carry over.
Policy & Resources was approached for comment.
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