This blog is all about the public sector and my thoughts and viewpoints as a public servant. It's my way of venting and interpreting things through my reality. So, rather than sit quiet and let it hit the fan, I decided its time to put people and departments on blast. It's my therapy. Its unabashed, unabridged and uncensored. It's all real. Read and find out. You may be enlightened, disgusted, impressed or indifferent. You decide...

Friday, August 27, 2004

It's a family affair

It's good to know that there is a strong "family" unit where I work. It's good to know that there are mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, husband and wives and every other relationship working for the City.

Unlike the private sector, the public sector employee will stay for the long haul. There is job security and the pay is not too bad. S o, why not have your boyfriend, sister and third cousin Jack apply for the City? Make the place more palpable.

Having a lot of family members in the workforce makes the reality that much more interesting.


Thursday, August 26, 2004

Do clothes make the man?

So the question for the day is: Do the clothes make the man?

We are in the process of defining/redefining and enforcing a dress code. And, yes, I do think that the "clothes make the man".

The people in the public sector already have a reputation of being lazy, inefficient, unprofessional, etc. Why not work towards changing these images?

Don't I always preach working toward change...even if its in tiny itty bitty baby steps.

Pros:
  • Looking professional will exude a bit more respect from the general public.
  • Dressing business appropriate will (hopefully) change the mindset of the organization as well
  • Now you can wear your nice clothes to work and not feel overdressed.
  • Perception of the organization will be changed

Ok, so since I have a list of PROS, I think it's only fair to list the CONS. So here it is...

Cons:

  • Dress clothes are not comfortable. Being comfortable in the work environment is important.
  • The general public does not even see a lot of us---so why should it matter?
  • Cost of dry cleaning
  • Even in business casual clothes, some people still look unkempt.

These are a few that I can think of.

I think that if you wear your "Sunday best" your attitude and mindset will change. It is just like a good hair day or when you have lost weight and can now fit into that size 2 black stretchy dress. If you look good, don't you usually feel good? And, if you feel good and in a good mood, don't you usually want to do what you're supposed to or what's right or expected of you? Sort of like, A = B = C (for all you math freaks out there). Its that simple and it really does all add up.

We'll see though. Change is always hard. Hopefully everything is defined precisely and there won't be anyone who will find the loophole and challenge the policy.


Wednesday, August 25, 2004

Its all good

New employees bring new ideas (or at least regurgitated, reinvented or recycled ones). What better way to begin your career than to think outside of the box and try to bring about change? Change in the environment is always good. I like it. I think it is refreshing.

New people always bring about a smile to my face. New job, new opportunities and new start. New ideas....always a good thing.

So, now every other Friday we are going to have a "social" --complete with a theme and specific food(s). What a grand idea! Let the newbies spearhead this agenda. Let them have the ideas and work the magic and creativity. Yeah, yeah, yeah, its been done before. But it lost steam and now is being brought back to life. Oh Happy Day!

What better way to spark employee morale! What better way to encourage participation and cohesiveness within a group or social setting! Hats off to you!

This will be four dollars well spent. Four dollars can't buy much but for bringing back the "Friday Goodies" it's well worth it.

Tuesday, August 24, 2004

Reality

Do you think that people in power gain that power through coersion or persuasion in the workforce?

Personally, I think that a lot of the power found in the public sector is made real by its employees in the workplace. Suck up and let them think that they are great and, alas, they take that worship mentality and turn it into a reality. So, instead of questioning reality and whether or not someone is capable of leading, it may be better to just sit and roll with the punches. After all, its just a job; you are not paid to think out loud like that. That is what management is for.

And who wants to spend 40 hours a week being miserable....

Pick Me, Pick Me

With five new employees working for the City, the race is on as to who can "outshine" the other. It's an unspoken thing, really. Five new employees, each trying to fit in and do their thing. Who is going to be the one to adhere to the policies, rules and procedures? Who is going to be the one to "kiss ass" and try to make the quick move up? Who is going to be the one to shine?

Pick me, pick me! That is the unspoken mantra. Get me out of the records department. Get me out of doing all the grunt work and "filing hell".

The smart employee will know that it is the hard worker that gets the prize. But the crafty one, the one who can adhere to the bureaucratic ways, will also get the prize. That crafty one will speak to the other employees and see how it's "done". He / she will figure out what hoops to jump through and work effectively----not necessarily efficiently--- but just enough to look competent. The hard worker, on the other hand, will work and do the assigned tasks and then some. That hard worker may not look for recognition but, instead, find satisfaction in having a job that pays well and is pretty much stable.

Sad that it happens that way. That's life. Probably happens in the private industry too but since the public has no "bottom line" then there really is no way to gauge employee progress or even workload. A lot of people in the public sector can really "fake it" and look like they are productive in an eight hour day (at least from my experience). Everyone knows who those people are. That's reality and it is made real by those who remain silent.

The new employee, if not from the public sector, is in for a real treat.

Hopefully, he /she does not adhere to the public servant stereotype...well, at least not for another year or so.