Posts filed under ‘Respectful Workplaces’
Teachers, late assignments, and hierarchy
I had a great discussion with a teacher who works in a school in the riding. Similar to concerns about the no-fail policy that I have written about previously, he talked to me about his hands being tied around the marks he gives students. The division policy is that students can hand in assignments late, even up to the last day of school, without a penalty for lateness. The teacher reflected on how our youth will gain the skills they need for post-secondary education and for the workplace, where doing things in a timely manner will be expected of them.
He also talked about how this policy was implemented by those in high positions without consultation or agreement by the teachers who are required to follow it. That is one of the things that concerns me about how government delivers services, whether it be education, health, or social services. Hierarchical structures sometimes lead to bad decision making unless we are conscious of how we wield power. It is my belief that our systems operate better when we give more autonomy to front line workers in deciding how to perform their jobs, and that policies are decided with front line staff, not for front line staff. There can be too much disconnect between administration and the people actually serving the public, which often results in policies that look good on paper but don’t work well in practice. Hierarchies without respect for staff in lower branches of the organizational chart frequently become ones where bullying and disrespect reside.
Can government, one of the most hierarchical and bureaucratic organizations, become more creative, more flexible, and function at a higher level? It will take time and vision and will, but I believe it can be done.
I welcome your feedback on this. Write me at judiheppnercampaign@gmail.com.
February 22, 2010
Well-being and safety in the workplace
A few days ago I had an interesting coversation with a woman who is involved with workplace safety. She was interested in the respectful workplace legislation that the LIberals introduced. She said she has noticed that in much of the discussion of workplace safety, the impression is always that safety is always up to the employee, and that systems assume that when mistakes happen, it’s always the employee’s fault. She felt that there needs to be a greater understanding of the responsibility of employers to provide safe and healthy workplaces.
It reminded me of a report I heard from a man a few years ago where he went to a couple of job sites to obtain employment. In one job site, he found out that the expectations the employer had of him would jeopardize his safety. At another job, he noticed unsanitary food practices and was told this is how they do things unless the health inspector is around.
Employees and employers both have responsibilities for safety and health in the workplace. Employers, however, have more power to ensure that it happens.
The Liberals believe that employers have a responsibility to provide safe, healthy and respectful workplaces to employees. Check out my new page on respectful workplaces.
Like what you see? Feel free to send feedback to judiheppnercampaign@gmail.com.
February 3, 2010
