Letters

K.C. Swanson's article about the EEO complaint process ("No Way Out," November) addresses the need to fix the process and highlights managers', supervisors' and complainants' problems with the system. I spoke to her with the understanding that I spoke for the Federal Managers Association. As an FMA official, I was reflecting not only my own views but those of many of my FMA colleagues. Unfortunately, the author misconstrued the intent of my statements.

It is true that to be an effective manager today one must always be aware of and concerned about how a subordinate might misconstrue a manager's remarks or actions. Not long ago, it was perfectly acceptable to pat employees on the back or put one's hands on their shoulders when trying to make a point-as a friendly action. This is no longer the case.

Any physical touching, even if accidental, can be and has been misconstrued by employees. This has caused managers to literally and figuratively "step back" when dealing with all their employees.

This new reality has often not been conveyed well in the minimal training that new and even experienced managers/supervisors receive. This is unfortunate because many managers/supervisors do not understand the ever-changing rules and behaviors expected of them today.

The result is managers being even more wary of their employees. They wind up keeping all employees at arms length, because they never know when friendliness might be misunderstood. Maybe this is necessary, but no one can deny that the easy camaraderie tha t existed in the federal workplace is a thing of the past.

Interactions between employees, and between managers/supervisors and employees must now be "strictly business." Failure to act businesslike at all times can end a promising career for a manager, because supervisors are usually the ones to pay if complaint s are filed against them.

The above was what I tried (in my own inartful way) to convey to the author. I do not shirk my responsibilities, nor do I try to isolate or distance myself from the workforce I supervise, as indicated. Rather I strive every day to do the right and respons ible thing for all individuals, and to do it in a professional and respectful manner.

Arthur T. Hill III
Vice President
FMA-FAA Conference

Losing Out on Savings

Savings programs, as Ted Cocca mentioned (Letters, September), have been in use for several years. I have tried unsuccessfully to get my agency to adopt the GSA Travel Gain Shares Program, in which a travele r splits savings on TDY travel 50-50 with the government.

When agencies go against new ways of doing business, such as by not adopting a proven approach to saving, unfortunately, they show the public that while some things change others remain the same.

Merrill D. Billups
Quality Insurance Director
Defense Logistics Agency
Marietta, Ga.