Employees of local government work for the citizens...not the other way around.
Local Government has one purpose and one purpose only...that is to provide services to the citizens.
It should be the primary duty of every local government to attempt to find the most cost effective method of providing those services.
Employees of local government work for the citizens...not the other way around.
With those thoughts in mind I am having a difficult time accepting this new idea of saving employees money by instituting 4 - 10 hour days/week.
The latest of many articles on this idea comes from Phillyblubs.Com.
Another Pennsylvania county is considering instituting a four-day work week for its employees. This time it’s the Berks County Commissioners. They are considering a plan designed to save hundreds of county employees some of the money they spend on gasoline to fill up their cars. The proposal is for a flexible schedule of a four-day work week at 10 hours per day.
I am not against 4 - 10 hour days if it can be done and not effect the quality of service for the citizens.
But, I am against the idea if the only reason to do it is to save employees money at the expense of quality of service.
Employees of local government work for the citizens...not the other way around.
Al Arnold
1 Comment
Reader Comments (1)
While it's difficult to refute the service to the people idea, it's not sufficient. Local government, especially in small towns, is about neighbours governing themselves. Local government officials, elected or appointed, often live in the town where they work. We should not gloss the key concept of civic responsibility, civic engagement, and volunteerism in local communities.
Local democracy is not free. If more citizens took up interest in local affairs, actively participated in local decision-making, did their small bit to keep properties, parks, and facilities litter-free, tried to understand local policies and bylaws a little better, and even simpler, ran for local office, local government would be cheaper and better run.
Civic illiteracy, and deflection of any and/or all responsibility for pitching in to maintain and improve the community must not be backgrounded.
I'm a local civic employee. On average I put in 60 hours week (i.e. 25 free hours). I'm a volunteer in the community. I bust my ass to save every dollar whenever, wherever I can. Yes, I count myself as a servant, and service is my touchstone. I live in my community, but unfortunately, while I bust my ass for my neighbours, I'm not allowed to vote.
As a public servant, I am not atypical. We are simply easy targets, mainly because we are disempowered to answer back to interrogations, accusations, and the encyclopedia of urban myths that circulate about the public service.
rib