Why are you in public service?

[SPA_Moderator]

Recently, I attended a conference where the topic of public service and purposeful work made me think about why I decided to work for state government. Many believed that state employees decided to accept a reduced salary and come to work for government because they had a big heart and wanted to make a difference in their community. But I don't believe that the majority of state employees are here for the greater good.

[Guest]

Interesting - are most of us here for the job security a government position offers? I don't think so, because in reality state employees have fewer rights than employees in the private sector, and Georgia, as a right to work/right to fire state has relatively few protections for any worker.

I think most of us are here for obvious reasons - it pays reasonably well in these tough economic times, the benefits are acceptable although not great, and there's a reasonably good chance that the job will be here tomorrow. In some agencies there is a clear job ladder. The work can be satisfying.

As someone who came from the nonprofit world, there is some motivation for doing good, for the potential of making a difference. But almost all of my jobs have had that as an element.

To be cynical, I trade my skills for a paycheck. If I show up and perform reasonably well, so does the paycheck. I don't have to deal with the profit motive too much. Once in a while I can make a positive change in someone's life.

It could be a lot worse.

[georgiapeach]

I started my career over twenty years ago. I desired a state job because of the stability of the position, the benefit package, and that it did start out greater than minimum wage. While I have not been made rich, I have enjoyed a pretty good quality of life. While providing a service to the citizens is important to me, making sure my family is taken care of is equally important.

I'm afraid with the current climate of furloughs, pay increase freezes, and benefit cost increases/coverage decreases, we are going to see it more difficult to retain our employees. Although opportunities are limited, when people do find something that seems a little better, they will leave. The changes in retirement will also make it more difficult to have employees make a career with the state.

[Guest]

Great stuff. I agree with most of it so far. I'm in public service because the state posted a job with two keywords that matched my resume at a time when I really needed a job. I never intended to stay long enough to become vested for retirement ( I'd be in my 70's) and I waived benefits (covered elsewhere). So I'm not here for any noble reasons, I'm here because they pay me. But when I'm hired to do a job, I deliver. I think the state is puitting itself in a position to lose a lot of good people. A previous poster said "it could be a lot worse". That's true. However, it's also true that I (and many others) will be leaving at the first opportunity if it gets very much worse. And that's a shame because the state will lose a lot of good employees.

[jtp]

The state is doing itself a disservice. There is nobility in working for the state to help people, but that nobility is unrewarded as it should be. There really is no good reason to work for state government anymore. With every year, pay seems to decrease. I pay twice as much for my healthcare as my wife does, and she has double the benefit. The pay scale is not only low, but with each furlogh day decreases. To move up you really have to know someone. And with the ending of the retirement plan for new hires, it is really foolish to work for state government.
The state is going to lose alot of good people when the recession is over...but that has never concerned the state leadership. Its not enough to say we are valued; you have to show value in some form or another.

[Icare]

It started out as a job when I needed one. It has grown into a love/hate relationship.

Love: I make a decent salary, above which we have benefits that are equitable to approximately 40% of our pay. If I make it long enough to be tenured then I will have a guaranteed little paycheck somewhere off in the far distant future – a nice additional something to add to my 401 retirement savings. If I happen to be here long enough to retire – great, if not – okay.

I get to provide healthcare services to an underserved population that is much larger and with more needs than I was aware of before coming to PH. I am able to provide services to this population that for one reason or another is unable to obtain them from private practice. On the whole, most are grateful to be able to receive those services.

My job is not a static position with repetitive duties Mon-Fri 8-5 in the same spot, doing the same thing, from now till forever. My duties seem to continuously change in some manner. I get to travel over many counties and provide services in several ways. I am constantly meeting new people who are in need of my assistance – even if it is simply my willingness to listen and empathize.

Here you can take on as many responsibilities as you wish or as few as is required just to meet your deliverables. It is what you make of it – that is empowering. Afraid to fail, don’t put yourself out there. Want change and challenge – put yourself out there.

Hate: I worried about my job security for many years and then gained some personal peace by being prepared. (Yes, I am a Dave Ramsey devotee!) I have worked hard to put away enough income so if I lose my job I will be covered for 4-6 months. It has taken me a long time to get here BUT it has given me the peace of mind that allows me to not stress as much. Yes, I still worry but I am not frantic when the rumors, force reduction and program closures start.

I would love a cost of living increase and a merit raise – yes, I understand it is not available right now but there needs to be an adjustment soon. A little goes a long way towards soothing ruffled feathers. Can’t offer it – offer praise for a job well done and tell me what you see in the future.

Don’t keep cuts a secret – it doesn’t work. The rumor mill is worse than the actual facts. Be up front with your people – tell us what is happening, what may happen, what we can do to protect ourselves and fellow workers. I don’t want to see people lose their job – not you, most definitely not me nor someone else next door. If there is a solution – unpleasant as it may be – let us find it together and do it.

I would like to have more training to develop as a person and employee and NO – I do not mean any more EP, OSHA or HIPAA training for heaven’s sake! Not every person is born an eagle – give me training to develop skills that work within my personal abilities. I don’t naturally “think outside the box” – teach me how. I am not an organized planner – teach me how to be. I want to learn self confidence, social skills, business etiquette, anything to advance myself as a person and employee. Help me to not only feel more valuable but to be more valuable to the organization.

Where are the epidemiology statistics on the success of our many different programs? Why do we always have to blow our own horns for recognition – just put the numbers out there for us to see. How many unsafe eating establishments did my environment health specialist save me from? How is the well water, septic systems, mosquito population, bird diseases going in my personal district? What is the results of the projects my immunization coordinator has been working on in my district? How many kids got their flu shot? How do you track immunizations? How well is it working? What is the dental program doing in my district? How many kids did they fill cavities on? What do they do to stop babies from getting all those bottle cavities? Are there any places we can refer adults who need help? What? Who? Where? – apply it to any and every program and tell me what is relevant to MY district. To MY area where I live, travel, work … Darn it – I care and I want to know that we are successful in what we do!

[Guest]

Interesting - are most of us here for the job security a government position offers? I don't think so, because in reality state employees have fewer rights than employees in the private sector, and Georgia, as a right to work/right to fire state has relatively few protections for any worker.

I think most of us are here for obvious reasons - it pays reasonably well in these tough economic times, the benefits are acceptable although not great, and there's a reasonably good chance that the job will be here tomorrow. In some agencies there is a clear job ladder. The work can be satisfying.

As someone who came from the nonprofit world, there is some motivation for doing good, for the potential of making a difference. But almost all of my jobs have had that as an element.

To be cynical, I trade my skills for a paycheck. If I show up and perform reasonably well, so does the paycheck. I don't have to deal with the profit motive too much. Once in a while I can make a positive change in someone's life.

It could be a lot worse.

[Mike]

I am in Public Service because for 26 years+ I worked in the private sector and made good money, and was then let go. I wanted to "give back" to the State, I also wanted a job with less stress than I had in the private sector, so I work for the State at a small fraction of what I was making. (OK, I was a "manager" but now classify myself as a "paper-pusher" .) Plus I needed a job, and the State was the only one hiring over people over 50 year old.

I also can take a lunch hour for a whole hour and not get fussed at, and leave within minutes of my quitting time .