Staff networks

Summary

The requester asked for a list of all staff networks within the Isle of Man civil service, similar to those in the UK. The Cabinet Office responded that it holds information only for its own department, disclosing two recently established networks focused on wellbeing and carbon reduction.

Key Facts

• The Cabinet Office confirmed it only holds information regarding its own department, not the entire Isle of Man civil service.
• Two staff networks currently exist within the Cabinet Office: one for wellbeing at work and one for reducing carbon footprint.
• These networks were recently established and have no information available on the Cabinet Office website yet.
• The authority advised the requester to contact other Departments, Boards, and Offices for information they hold.
• The request was clarified on 4 August 2025 to limit the scope to Cabinet Office holdings before proceeding.

Data Disclosed

• 4845326
• 2025-08-05
• 2025-08-08
• 4th August 2025
• 8 August 2025
• 2
• IM1 3PN
• 01624 686244

Original Request

The UK Civil Service has various "staff networks" within government departments. These include diversity groups, environmental and faith groups, as well as culture and history enthusiast networks. Some departments also have networks dedicated to 'flexible working'. Please provide me with records listing all "staff networks" that currently exist within the Isle of Man civil service. If the Isle of Man civil service uses a different word, jargon, or nomenclature, to describe broadly similar things, please provide me with records listing such groups.

Data Tables (1)

Data Tables (reformatted)

Full Response Text

Government Office Douglas Isle of Man IM1 3PN Telephone: (+44) 01624 686244
Website: www.gov.im/co

Our ref: 4845326 8 August 2025

Dear ###

We write further to your request, received 5 August 2025, which states:

"The UK Civil Service has various "staff networks" within government departments. These include diversity groups, environmental and faith groups, as well as culture and history enthusiast networks. Some departments also have networks dedicated to 'flexible working'.

Please provide me with records listing all "staff networks" that currently exist within the Isle of Man civil service. If the Isle of Man civil service uses a different word, jargon, or nomenclature, to describe broadly similar things, please provide me with records listing such groups."

On 4th August 2025 we wrote to you to clarify we would only be able to respond based on the information held by the Cabinet Office. We asked whether, on that basis you wished to proceed with your request. On 4th August you replied to confirm you wished to proceed with your request.

To provide advice and assistance we advised that you may wish to contact other Departments, Boards and Offices in relation to the information they hold. .

The Cabinet Office has established two staff networks that focus on:

1) Wellbeing at work 2) Reducing our carbon footprint

By way of advice and assistance, please note that these staff networks have only recently been established and so there is currently no information available on the Cabinet Office website in relation to either staff network.

Please quote the reference number 4845326 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.