VicWater launches secondment program for the water sector

VicWater are excited to be bringing a secondment program to employees of the Victorian water sector. Continuing our commitment to be a sector that is an employer of choice, a secondment program is rich in opportunities for both employers and employees. A secondment program opens up access to these opportunities without the employees having to make a permanent change, which is win-win for everyone.

Secondments involve a temporary transfer of an employee to another part of the organisation or to another related organisation. In our case, the secondments will be within the water sector but not necessarily with the same organisations.

Benefits of secondments

There are some amazing benefits to going on secondment, ranging from learning new skills, enjoying new experiences, and learning about other organisational cultures and processes. A secondment is also a fantastic opportunity to promote your expertise in a certain area, prepare you for the next upward step in your career and provide excellent networking opportunities.

From an employer’s perspective the benefits a secondment brings are well worth undertaking also. To start with, a secondment is a low-risk opportunity; a new temporary team member can boost team morale, enhance the organisation’s reputation, and fill a temporary skill gap within the team (particularly useful when undertaking project work). For both parties, a secondment provides variety and is often a refreshing change for everyone involved.

Duration of a secondment

There is no fixed term to a secondment, this is determined by the employer, employee and the host organisation. A secondment can be extended or shortened depending on the needs of all parties. A placement can evolve into a permanent position, and it can also be terminated by the host organisation if there are performance issues.

Life after the secondment

It’s important to know that you may not necessarily return to the role you left after the secondment ends. Your employer has a responsibility to provide a role for you to return to at the same level of the one you left to go on secondment (regardless of the level you worked at while on secondment) but it may not be to the role you were in.