Graham: Years ago I was an interim manager of a 50-employee department in a public agency. I learned two important things: (1) employees love to gripe about their job--that doesn't necessarily mean anything, though it might indicate trouble; and (2) many employees were working according the "deal" they had cut, i..e., you pay me a certain amount and have certain conditions of employment, and you get this much work out of me. If you try to change the workplace, for example by what you consider to be an improvement, you are messing with the "deal." I think you've identified the symptom correctly, but it's nothing new as far as my experience goes.
Public agency work is mostly mundane, 'cog in the wheel' work. So, not surprised those employees like to gripe about their job. Keeps them from dying of boredom after a while, lol.
The private sector has many positions available where taking prudent risks (technical and business risks) is rewarded. In those positions, FAIL means First Attempt In Learning. If I don't FAIL once in a while, I know I haven't been pushing the boundaries of my knowledge hard enough. When you stay busy growing there's little reason to be complaining.
Gene: Disclaimer: I'm 74, working as a manager and enjoying work, but I am a cynic.
Years ago I was on an elevator and a manager of an agency climbed on, and in response to my inquiry said he was doing very fine indeed, "just 4 more." Four more what asked--4 more years to retirement! I realized he was counting backwards, and I see some (maybe a lot) of that.
Public employees are safe: constitutional and legal protection and usually a union as well. The only real danger is layoff. The "process improvements" I see are designed to facilitate the bureaucratic regimen, not reduce or eliminate it, and certainly never to lead to a reduction in staff. A City Manager might claim to support attempt/failure/improve, but the political reality is that mistakes are viewed as costly incidents to be avoided.
Graham: Years ago I was an interim manager of a 50-employee department in a public agency. I learned two important things: (1) employees love to gripe about their job--that doesn't necessarily mean anything, though it might indicate trouble; and (2) many employees were working according the "deal" they had cut, i..e., you pay me a certain amount and have certain conditions of employment, and you get this much work out of me. If you try to change the workplace, for example by what you consider to be an improvement, you are messing with the "deal." I think you've identified the symptom correctly, but it's nothing new as far as my experience goes.
That's quite insightful Tom! Thanks for sharing :-)
Public agency work is mostly mundane, 'cog in the wheel' work. So, not surprised those employees like to gripe about their job. Keeps them from dying of boredom after a while, lol.
The private sector has many positions available where taking prudent risks (technical and business risks) is rewarded. In those positions, FAIL means First Attempt In Learning. If I don't FAIL once in a while, I know I haven't been pushing the boundaries of my knowledge hard enough. When you stay busy growing there's little reason to be complaining.
Gene: Disclaimer: I'm 74, working as a manager and enjoying work, but I am a cynic.
Years ago I was on an elevator and a manager of an agency climbed on, and in response to my inquiry said he was doing very fine indeed, "just 4 more." Four more what asked--4 more years to retirement! I realized he was counting backwards, and I see some (maybe a lot) of that.
Public employees are safe: constitutional and legal protection and usually a union as well. The only real danger is layoff. The "process improvements" I see are designed to facilitate the bureaucratic regimen, not reduce or eliminate it, and certainly never to lead to a reduction in staff. A City Manager might claim to support attempt/failure/improve, but the political reality is that mistakes are viewed as costly incidents to be avoided.
Hustle to leave the hustle
Haha