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State Workers Feeling Unloved
According to an article in the Tribune, State workers are feeling unloved and the parking lot is the last straw. No doubt this is a tough time and its causing a lot of stress. I sympathize with that—I’ve been there and its not fun.
Even so, some of the quotes in the article made me shake my head in wonder. Consider this:
“We’re all just wondering what’s next,” said one state worker, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation.From Salt Lake Tribune - Utah
Referenced Mon Mar 21 2005 22:40:31 GMT-0700 (MST)
I heard this sort of thing all the time when I was at the State. Give me a big, fat break. If this person really is scared, and my experience leads me to believe that its likely just a line, then they’ve been scared by someone trying to manipulate them.
State workers use the “fear of retaliation” line all the time and its a crock. First off, someone would have to want to do something. Second, they’d have to have the power to do something. There’s very little anyone could do to retaliate and if they did, they’d open themselves up to all kinds of legal action. This is just one more example of the victim mentality that permeates the State “merit” system.
Of course, the press prints all of this like there was some witch hunt going on instead of a series of carefully considered and legislatively backed plans to improve the management of various functions in the State.
Here’s another one:
“We had job security and good retirement benefits,” says Greg Shoop, a 30-year state information technology worker. “But the incentive to stay just isn’t here anymore. Why would I work for the state of Utah for less money?” Shoop is considering retiring early and applying for jobs at Wal-Mart and Home Depot to tide him over into retirement.From Salt Lake Tribune - Utah
Referenced Mon Mar 21 2005 22:47:02 GMT-0700 (MST)
The logic here escapes me. Less money than what? Certainly not Wal-Mart. Why would you retire to go to work for Wal-Mart if you’re worth a lot as an IT worker? Why not do IT work in the private sector if money is the issue? Wal-Mart certainly doesn’t have better job security than the State, even after the moves, and it doesn’t have a better retirement plan.
I’ve got to wonder how many private sector IT workers reading this story are shaking their heads and thinking that these changes look pretty minor compared to what they’ve been through in the last five years.
Posted by windley on March 21, 2005 10:38 PM
