The Week in Comments: Diversity, work-life balance and Honolulu inhospitality
The best in reader reaction to recent articles.
A roundup of some of the comments received this week in the GovExec.com Mailbag. All comments are presented in their original, unedited form.
On Lawmakers announce initiative to increase diversity on Capitol Hill
Selection for SES Development positions should be fully Centralized to Washington. Until this is implemented diversity will not occur. any person selected for this position is required to under go a probationary period. One has to be careful that when local authorities and regional authorities have major input in the process, diversity will not happen.
Aren't we all Americans? Shouldn't that be enough? If they want real diversity, kick out all the Washington DC insiders and bring in folks who represent the average everyday hard-working, tax-paying citizen who knows first hand the oppressiveness of federal regulation on small businesses.
This action is pure and simple discrimination against Caucasians but I guess that's OK as long as minorities benefit. I only hope these discriminatory initiatives exist in 30 years or so when Caucasians are the minorities. Interestingly the article makes no mention of Caucasians and the adverse effects reverse discrimination has on them while persuing employment. If the best qualified individual was always hired this would be a moot point.
And, as usual, diversity is only discussed in terms of Race & National Origin, color, and ethnicity. There is no mention of persons with disabilities. EEO programs routinely ignore and dismiss persons with disabilities and issues of accessibility. Let's not even talk about the discrimination (legal or not) against sexual minorities ("lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered" for those not understanding the term.
Gary, are you talking about mental disabilities as well? Because they did mention Pelosi.
I applaud the idea of diversity, HOWEVER, our congress is going about it in the wrong manner. What we need in congress and their staff is diversity which includes working class people. People who actually held a civilian job before working for government. People who started a small business would be excellent representatives as well for all Americans. People who have actually lived on a weekly paycheck and saw the impacts of big government and taxes on their paychecks. That would be a great place to start if you want to add diversity in congress and their staff.
On Lawmakers ask FBI director to end abuses over records
Faster to ask forgiveness than get permission. If the letters were stopped after it had been determined improper, where is the crime if there was no guidance prior?
If its that important than pass a law, me thinks there isn't enough support to go that way and the public would be jumping up and down
America does not need a Gestapo!
On OPM will launch branding campaign, test lab to recruit new hires
Attention John Berry:
Federal Civil Service is not cool nor has it ever been cool. It is service to America, plain and simple. It is hard word, devotion to duty and long hours. How about just telling people the truth.
It's not about a "cool-team." OPM needs to focus on eliminating pre-selection, cronyism, and nepotism. vacancies should be open to "All U.S. Citizens", not just "locals" or "agency employees only."
If you want to get more people into government, first step would be to get the idiots out of HR. The lowest common denominator are often the front line in HR, who screen as gatekeepers and dismiss qualified people by judging their exterptise in technical areas, even though the analysts often barely graduate high school. The problem just gets worse as even much of HR leadership doesn't understand OPM rules or the problems in their own organization. The problem is not attracting people to the government, the problem is gatekeeprs and the people that manage them.
John Berry is the most inspiring, energizing OPM Director ever! He has already done a lot to make government cool again and I am constantly amazed at his energy and enthusiasm. As a long-time Fed, I am truly inspired!
I wish I could have traveled the world as a federal employee. Despite 18 years of Outstanding ratings, I can't get hired elsewhere because the jobs are all rigged. John Berry - I want to be like you! Tell us how you did it.
On White House creates advisory board on federal management
Oh just great, 17 more Czar experts in Washington who have never served one day in Federal Acquisition service telling the folks who have been doing it for decades how to perform their jobs. Retiring to Fort Livingroom is looking better each day.
So here it goes again, private sector folks trying to implement private sector processes in order to change the long established bureaucracy. When will the Administration get it? Things are the way they are in many (most?) cases because the laws say they have to be that way. Change the laws first, then capable Federal employees know what to do to implement real change in the processes.....
This is not the way to do it. The government is not the private sector. Include some rank and file feds who are NOT managers - we'll let you know what's working and what's not.
On Poll: Trust in government nose dives
We howl about communication--and rarely communicate among our bureaucratic selves, let alone our clients. Consider: perhaps the reason the IRS has a better image is that they do communicate more effectively and have given their clients an impression, if not the reality, of having control over their dealings with indivual employees. As much as I don't want to give my name and employee ID number every time I answer the telephone, it does give me a distinct impression of power when I can write down the name and ID number of the person on the other end of the telephone line when I call the IRS.
Not trust governement? $1.4 Trillion dollar deficit, Ramming through bill clearly opposed by majority that effects 1/6 of the economy, almost 1/2 of the people in the US pay no taxes. And anyone wonders why 80% don't trust government. Actually the question should be what do we do about the gullable 20% who do trust government?
It is a sad state of affairs and we have only congress and ourselves to thank for it. Our (voters)apathy does not hold them accountable office for poor performance. Congress for making their mission re-election and party. They put off problems by ignoring them or passing mindless legislation without providing the authority or funding to go with a fix. They pass new laws instead of enforcing old ones. They spend more time grand standing sports and car companies than they do addressing social security and medicare short falls and inefficiencies. They talk fiscal responsibility while doing nothing but earmarking. They can't stick to a single up or down issue without adding unrelated issues. Our congress is dysfunctional and they like it that way. Feels good getting that out and now we'll just have to vote them out.
On From Nextgov.com: Justices question public employees' expectations of privacy
Please! If you want privacy, use your own phone. If the employer pays for the phone or computer, it's their's to set the rules on the use. We have a fiduciary duty to the public to use tax dollars appropriately. Let's not make the public think even worse of us.
No person has the right to misuse any article provide for them to do their job. If it belongs to the government, or a private company, no person should expect privacy, the government or the private company should have the right to monitor any communications. How far should it go, a parent no longer has the right to monitor a childs TV viewing, computer or phone usage?
I have a reasonable expectation of privacy at work in respect to the cubicle drawers and cabinets that I was given a key for. I can expect that another employee would have to possess a reasonable level of suspicion that I have something of a criminal nature in them, and have proper authority to unlock those drawers or cabinets without my permission. The same rule should apply to electronic devices.
On Burning Question: How much salt will the government let you eat?
Please, GovExec, don't add to rampant antigovernmentism with misleading titles, no matter how clever.
I like this, I need the government to also tell me how many sheets of toilet paper to use. I can't wait until they start paying for my mandatory vacations. I notice that everyones' accent is starting to turn European... "We are the World" La! La! La!
Bull. It is not personal choice when you have no choice - all processed food has too much salt. The health risks are well documented, and FDA is just doing their job - protecting Americans from unhealthy food. They are not regulating people's behavior, just the quality of food that can be sold. Those that want saltier food can always sprinkle some more on - that's their personal choice.
As one who puts salt on anchovy pizza, this looks like a first step in government mind control. "We'll gradually wean you off salt for your own good." Of course, they admit that the body requires salt, but no one seeems to know how much, so I guess we'll just keep lowering it until an opposite health emergency arises due to lack of salt in the American diet. No matter how much the FDA compels salt avoidance by the food manufacturers, I will still "season to taste." You'll have to pry my cold dead fingers from around my salt shaker. By the way, does the U.S. Army still pass out salt tablets to soldiers in the field during hot weather? Army medical personnel determined that to be one way of avoiding heat stroke.
Your nanny-state is at work! How long before the Obama regime regulates the intake of red meat, alcohol, and anything and everything else they determine is "bad" for you? If you don't want salt, buy products that don't have salt. They're available. We don't need government telling us what we can and can't do. George Orwell was a visionary! You better wake up, America!
On Shifting focus, McCain talks tough on border security
Just as you wouldn't allow uninvited guests into your home, neither should the United States allow illegal aliens ("uninvited guests") to enter at will. We already have the most generous immigration policy in the world, for LEGAL immigrants. Our nation today no longer resembles the nation that existed in the 1880's, which needed immigrants to come here, settle, ASSIMILATE, and contribute to our growth. Emma Lazarus's famous poem at the Statute of Liberty referred to a very different America back then, and while sentimental, is no longer relevant in 2010. With over 300 million currently living here, it's time to put out the "No Vacancy" signs at our borders, and take back control of our nation.
Give it up John. This latest ploy at sensibility is too late. You have already shown your true colors regarding illegal immigration. Would you really be taking this issue if your job wasn't in jeopardy?
You need to look at why immigration on the mexican border has become such a problem. Lack of penalty pure and simple. If someone gets caught they spend a few days in jail getting 3 hots and a cot not to mention hot shower and then gets on a bus and back across the border they go only to return next week. We dont need to shoot to kill but that would work, wouldnt take long to get the message across that you go through proper channels and your in if you dont they bury you. This will never be a good arrangement for the US until we go to Mexico City and plant a flag and absorb all of mexico into the US for that matter Canada too! It will happen sometime in the future so lets do it now and save us the greif. No more advantage crossing the border business in Mexico has to pay 8 bucks an hour people of Mexico have taxes withheld like the rest of the poor working stiffs in this country. When you look at this historically Americans have been attacking and taking ground and planting our flag since its conception look what they did to the Natives that lived in this land almost complete genocide. They planted a flag and stole it so whats the differant today besides Political Correctness which we all know is really the reason we are in this mess today. And the artical says we spent hundreds of millions on security heck they are only coming here for work and money so take those millions and just give them money at the border they will go home. The political machine in this country is really out of touch a matter of fact I dont believe they really have a clue. Mr. McCain one of our great warriors who has sacrificed just about everything for his nation and the people has been tainted by the political machine how sad. A politician thinks of the next election JOHN and a Leader thinks of the next generation. I would strongly suggest your replacement go with the leader deal because I'm afraid its to late for you Mr. McCain just bow out gracefully its all you can do at this point. And try to recover your patriotizm and leave all that greed the political machine taught you behind you. We loose to many good honest people to the machine. AMEN
On Pay raises aren't enough to lure would-be senior executives
The pay difference between a GS-15 and a SES is insignificant when considering a SES is on-call 24 hours 7 days a week. My SES boss works all the time and is constantly called and emailed over the weekend and while on vacation. It is not worth it. In addition, with the GS, we have credit hours, comp time for travel and other perks. The SES do not. The annual cost of living increase is greater for GS because SES do not have locality pay. Pay compression is a real issue and needs to be addressed if people want GS to become SES. Lastly, I feel I have more input on the running of my portion of the organization than my SES boss. There is something to be said for staying a GS-15.
Let's get real. In the private sector there is no such thing as "work-life balance"; you have "work-life choice". If you want to move up in the executive ranks you have to make home life sacrifices. Its about time Gov't employees realize this and stop crying about work-life balance. If you want to be an executive you will have to put some of your own time on the job.
As one who opted not to pursue a career SES position, there's another big reason. I don't was a lot of responsibility without the authority that goes with it. The age of "do more with less" has reached a destructive level--more we're doing, better (or even good enough) we aren't.
Who would want one of these jobs. You have to eat breathe and live your work in an SES position. Attend the right cocktail parties, hobnob with the right folks whether you like them or not. No Thanks
On planet earth, the SeSrs I have observed take regularly scheduled carpools (e.g., 9 to 5 work schedule). Since I have not been on the planet referred to in this article, it is hard to comment. BTW Federal Management on planet earth is not rocket science. The most needed quality is the ability conduct directed actions (not rocket science) in honest manner. Paying a higher salary on planet earth does not make manager more honest.
On Burning Question: Where's the worst place to work for Uncle Sam?
Boo hoo, NYC is so expensive....try living in Ajo, Arizona, 2hrs from the nearest E/R, quality school, supermarket, etc. Or, how about Douglas, Az, or Presidio, Tx?
Boo hoo, NYC is so expensive....try living in Ajo, Arizona, 2hrs from the nearest E/R, quality school, supermarket, etc. Or, how about Douglas, Az, or Presidio, Tx?
DC is the worst by far. Traffic, stress, traffic, churn, traffic.
Gulf Coast of MISSISSIPPI - post Katrina. Price of food, housing, gas, basic essentials compares to DC. Car and home insurance is sky high, not to mention cable service (no competition) and you either buy groceries at Wal-mart (UGH!) or drive 40 miles to a real grocery store. Not to mention the heat and humidity -- 90 degrees and 90 percent humidity at 7am in March!
I'd nominate Washington, DC. Talk about having low status in a high cost area! Even the lower level SES's get no respect.
I have found that southern states tend to be a poor place to live when working for the fed. The grades are lower, the people are not as hospitable as you would think and the management seems to be still comprised of the Good 'Ole Boys. They are also not very big on diversity. Also, it seems like if you aren't from there, they don't want you there. That's been my observation in moving from a metro area to the south.
I disagree with listing CRANE as a bad place to work. The base itself is about 22 miles from Bloomington. Just in case you forgot that is where Indiana University is located. Anyone who has lived in a college town would probably disagree with the defination, no night life. If you base your assumptions on the number of stripper clubs per mile then Bloomington would fail the test as compared to DC. Housing is still affordable and living in the area does not entail a 9MM 21 gun salute to lull you into sleep.
High cost of living, bad traffic, high income taxes, high incidences property crime (vandalism, grafitti, theft), gargantuan cockroaches, centipedes, and other bugs and to top it all off, the locals treat you like an outcast and don't want you there. Welcome to Honolulu! Seriously, the great weather does NOT make up for the rest....
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