HUNDREDS of Essex Fire Service workers have criticised how it is being run.

The service commissioned an independent company to find out how engaged its staff felt.

About half of the 1,500 staff questioned said engagement was “very weak”.

The staff felt they were doing a good job for the service, but only one in four would recommend it as a place to work.

The service missed the target for the number of people proud to work there and the number who felt rewarded, or felt managed effectively.

Only 37 per cent felt involved and onl y 27 per centthought change was managed well.

Only 13 per cent answered “yes” to the question: “Is it a better place to work than three years ago?”

Alan Chinn-Shaw, Essex Fire Brigades Union branch secretary, said: “This should not come as a surprise. This is what we have been telling the management for a while. Morale is at the lowest it has ever been.

“They say they are putting things in place to rectify this and make people feel rewarded, but they are not listening and they are not consulting.”

A spokesman for the service said plans were being put in place to improv e the relationship with staff.

A new employee-engagement strategy action plan has been put together by the fire service to combat the problems .