Inland Revenue calls in the Samaritans
The Inland Revenue has called in the Samaritans to help its public-facing staff cope with irate and distressed calls from taxpayers and tax credit claimants.
Link: Fresh tax credits bungle hits Revenue
Following last year’s tax credit debacle, the Revenue was acutely aware of the pressure and strain staff were put under. But the training is unlikely to come in cheap. The Samaritans normally charge £1,500 a day for such training, although it would not disclose details of the deal to train 2,000 staff.
A spokesman for the Revenue told the Daily Telegraph it would employ a ‘variety of methods to provide the most up-to-date and appropriate training’ for its staff.