What’s Happenin’?

While I’m taking some holiday time off, we have a good group of guest columnists to fill in the blanks. Some are still on the job, some are retired. They come from different agencies, and different places.

Today’s contributor suggests that the drop in employee morale can partially be attributable to the decline of faith in career managers.

He writes:

Regarding the current state of federal employment, a restatement of the 60’s song, “War”, seems in order. Edwin Starr, the Temptations, and Bruce Springsteen, artists who have performed this ballad, sing these lyrics – “War … huh … yeah … what is it good for … absolutely nothing.” For feds, this tune sounds more like “Morale … huh … yeah … what is it good for … absolutely nothing.” At least that seems to be the consensus based on the shrinking ratings being given to their employer, our great government.

Federal employee job satisfaction has plummeted to its lowest point in 11 years, while job satisfaction in the private sector has been steadily increasing, calculated as 15 percent higher than in the federal government. Once, not too long ago, a job with the federal government was viewed as a noble profession. Federal employees took pride in knowing they were serving the American public. Today only about 50 percent of federal employees claim they would recommend their organization to a friend or family member as a good place to work. So what’s happening?

This drop in employee morale can partially be attributable to the decline of faith in career managers. There is growing outcry for reforms in management practices. Good supervisors are few and far between. Ask any fed to describe their relationship with a supervisor and my bet is you hear statements like — can’t be trusted; is unavailable; provides little direction; is looking for his/her own advancement with little care for the advancement of those under his/her supervision. But are there other factors?

How about not having an avenue in which to lodge honest complaints or comments without fearing retribution? Federal employees receive regular job performance appraisals. But when your supervisor isn’t in your court, or seldom even in your office, your evaluation may be skewed or jaded or wrong. What happens then? There is much uncertainty and actual fear of retribution. Loyalty and dependability by management are passé. Whistleblower protections really offer very little protection if experience and observation are any teacher. …

Pay freezes — and I am not just talking what has happened since 2008. For the past 40 years, pay freezes and furloughs have created an ever present dark cloud over the heads of feds. Yet taxes increase, health care and insurance increase, food, gasoline, medicine, education all cost more. Federal employment used to pay the bills. Now for many it is one of two or three jobs needed to do the same. …

We live in a world of rationalizations and the government is a full-fledged player at the mercy of a manipulated Congress. And feds, like many others, rationalize, hanging in there for the sake of their family or because they see retirement on the horizon or because of tradition, but no longer because they feel part of a bigger, more noble, picture.

It would seem like better morale would lead to happier, more productive workers. Apparently, that’s not the approach our government is interested in taking. While the private sector is investing in bettering the workplace — recognizing that healthy, motivated, engaged professionals create a better work product — the federal government has become a proverbial ostrich and in doing so has created a culture of indifference.

— Publius

NEARLY USELESS FACTOID:

Compiled by Michael O’Connell

Edwin Starr’s single “War” was the #1 hit on Billboard’s Pop Singles chart for three weeks in August and September 1970. Diana Ross’ “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” replaced it as the next #1.

Source: Wikipedia

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