DHS staff angry over rat, loo paper icons

Striking public servants were depicted as rats, then toilet paper - but it was all a misunderstanding.

Department of Human Services staffers were outraged over the use of what they say was a rodent icon in an internal human resources system to denote those who were taking industrial action at specific times.

Officials, who insist it was actually a tiny icon of a mouse, changed it to a piece of paper, but even that caused furore because apparently some thought it was toilet paper, a Senate estimates hearing was told on Wednesday.

"There was no intentional disrespect to our staff members," department secretary Kathryn Campbell said.

"I've apologised for the offence taken."

The icons were standard use for managers to understand tasks being undertaken by staffers, and the mouse-rat symbol was chosen by a junior staff member who thought it was cute and innocuous.