Let's consider this the beginning of the dialogue. Ian Spurlock, who works in Disability Determination Services for the state (and who's idea it was in the first place to do this story) has begun the "formal" interview process with me. Here's a sampling of what he had to say ... and remember, state workers -- your input is wanted in the comments section.
The following is all Spurlock, unedited (though not in entirety; more to come later this week):
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Ideologically speaking, I feel that I'm being asked to choose between my best interests as a taxpayer and as an employee.
My political views include a belief that the role of government should be as limited as possible. Civil Service jobs should be run as efficiently as possible and not burdened with poor employees who cannot be fired except following the most egregious of offenses. If you're not cutting it, good bye. I've been laid off before. It hurts. But deep down in me there is always that belief and knowledge that, yes, perhaps I could have worked harder and been more valuable to the company, and maybe had I done so I would still be there.
I don't feel that here. All I have to do is work to the lowest common denominator and I'll have no trouble at all. I'm not in line for any merit based promotion for at least 2 or 3 more years. I can't ask for more work, as the standard is 3 new cases per day. I could probably do 5 or 6 a day. If given the opportunity to do that and know that management would put me on some kind of fast-track for promotion, that would be fantanstic.
It would also kill the chances of those struggling with 3 a day to ever get promoted. That would allegedly be a bad thing.
Merit does, eventually, come into question though in the form of promotional tests regulated by the Civil Service Commission, however, that's years into the game.
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I totally agree with what Ian has said. In my department I have busted my ass by coming in early, staying late and putting the most into my day, guess what...it gets you no where!! Now I just hang back and do what everyone else does. I will never get promoted because I'm not dumb enough and haven't been disciplined. As a tax payer this pisses me off, as a State employee...whatever!
ReplyDeleteAfter 22 years, I have seen both the ones that bust their butt and get promoted, and the ones that were promoted because of who they knew. But the reality is they can only circumvent civil service rule of 3 so much and in the end they will not fill the position rather than bump someone who doesn't score high enough on the test or to promote someone they don't like. the other issue is if someone doesn't like what the agency they are working with does, they call thier local politician and complain and then more time is spent justifying why we didn't do something to a clueless politician or thier staff. The state is broke stop advocating for freebies for your constituents to make yourself look good..
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