City employee doesn't care for PD

[HHW]

Let's test the apparently high level of aggression on this board. This editorial was in the Herald a couple of days back:
http://www.calgaryherald.com/life/Mo...716/story.html

Don't know about her motivation for slagging her employer (money? moral satisfaction? just likes to whinge?), but I know one thing. Back when I had a summer job, when I busted my backside outside for slave wages, I wasn't going to complain too hard about having to attend a slack orientation / PD day. Make yourself comfortable, and park your brain in neutral. You may even pick up on something interesting.

Even in my subsequent professional careers, I never complained too hard about these sessions. Good chance to meet your fellow employees, and perhaps to change the workplace culture for the good.

So I was curious about CP's take. Broadening the scope, I don't doubt that there is a wide range of opinions amongst us on mandated PD days at work. Unless you are all liars and none of you actually work, you have all had the pleasure of attending these sessions at some point Are they somewhat useful, a deplorable waste of time and money or just a lovely chance to kick back and chat up the secretary?

BTW, I somehow don't think ms. Peterson will be working for the parks department next year.

[JustAnotherGuy]

An 8 hour orientation seems a bit much. Having 4 2 hour session does seem like a waste of time for review. How about a 3 hour orientation and that should be enough. I like the idea of having an orientation. But they can be rather dry. So make it 2 hours.

[metallicat]

Why would the Herald even run that? I work for the city up here, and the place is infested with rookie employees who just started and think they should personally be changing the culture of the workplace, similar to what this person thinks. Get over yourself, you're just a number working a dead-end job. Just go get your education, get a better job, and shut up.

[CaramonLS]

The funny thing is the people who think these PD days / Orientations are useless, are probably the ones who need them the most.

Most of them in my organization deal with the practical application of the concept vs. the actual theory behind it (which I'd personally like to learn more of).

A good deal of the time, when people like Ms. Peterson are in the session, they are frequently embarrassed because they don't get the concepts and can't model the behaviors. Which is really too bad.

I really like PD days and being in the HR field, I do a lot of them, but it is like anything - you get what you put into it, but they can be extremely helpful.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by oilers_fan

Why would the Herald even run that? I work for the city up here, and the place is infested with rookie employees who just started and think they should personally be changing the culture of the workplace, similar to what this person thinks. Get over yourself, you're just a number working a dead-end job. Just go get your education, get a better job, and shut up.

Because everyone "shutting up" and working in a "dead end job" really contributes to a positive work environment.

Let me guess, you've been stuck in the same position for 10 years, wont take on more responsibility (or can't because you're incompetent) and just overall bitter about where you work. However, you wont leave your job because you've got some high seniority and know that no other company would come close to paying you the dollars you're making now for the unskilled labour you're doing.

Sound about right?

[metallicat]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

Because everyone "shutting up" and working in a "dead end job" really contributes to a positive work environment.

Let me guess, you've been stuck in the same position for 10 years, wont take on more responsibility (or can't because you're incompetent) and just overall bitter about where you work. However, you wont leave your job because you've got some high seniority and know that no other company would come close to paying you the dollars you're making now for the unskilled labour you're doing.

Sound about right?

You're pretty close.

But I see it every year with new people. They come in thinking their way of doing things is better, when really they have no idea what they're talking about. I don't know why she wrote a letter to the media about it, it just reeks of someone thinking they know better than everyone else.

[ComixZone]

....dang, the hostility took less than a handful of posts to show it's head.

....the hockey season needs to start, asap.

[Ramsayfarian]

The workshops sound like a colossal waste of taxpayers money. These PD days were for seasonal park workers. As a taxpayer, I think my money could be better spent elsewhere.

[metallicat]

Originally Posted by Ramsayfarian

The workshops sound like a colossal waste of taxpayers money. These PD days were for seasonal park workers. As a taxpayer, I think my money could be better spent elsewhere.

Another example of someone, a complete outsider, thinking they can run the business of a city better than the city itself.

[Tyler]

Like it or not, she's working with machinery and tools that could severe a limb or even decapitate someone.

8 hours of training is probably a good measure for the City to shield itself from any liability by showing she had sufficient training.

[CaptainCrunch]

A 8 hour session for summer workers who probably aren't going to be long term city employees is a ######ed waste of money.

Bringing in a motivational speaker for a session for summer temp parks workers is equally ######ed.

To me its a waste of time and money and resources.

Conflict resolution, leave that to the crew supervisor or the chain of command.

Motivation, I can provide that in about a minute. "Your summer park workers, get your work done and you get paid. Piss around and your done, questions?"

Training on equipment, its a weed wacker, they can be oriented on that in an hour on the site.

I don't see the purpose of this, I don't see why we should spend money on this.

Its really really dumb.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Tyler

Like it or not, she's working with machinery and tools that could severe a limb or even decapitate someone.

8 hours of training is probably a good measure for the City to shield itself from any liability by showing she had sufficient training.

Out of the whole 8 hours, there was a 20 minute video on machine safety.

[puckluck]

The city really knows how to waste money. She has a point. You see city workers all the time just slacking off.

I know this has nothing to do with the city workers, but why are they paving roads that are perfectly fine? Maybe they know something I don't but all these roads they are paving look very good to me and a waste of tax payer money.

Usually when someone has the road in front of their house paved they are happy, but that wasn't the case for me last month. I was actually pretty pissed off as a citizen that the road that I drive on every day that was in excellent condition was being re-paved.

Is their main goal just to make the workers busy? I really don't understand why they need to re-pave a perfectly fine road. What a waste.

[Ramsayfarian]

Originally Posted by oilers_fan

Another example of someone, a complete outsider, thinking they can run the business of a city better than the city itself.

I couldn't do any worse than the clowns who are running things now. Did you even read the article?

[bcb]

Conflict resolution? I'm holding a freaking weedwacker.

Somehow Kacie the 'freelance writer' must not be very successful if she has to work manual labour in the summertime. Anyway, today, waste in the parks department. Tomorrow, Watergate. She has the makings of a great investigative journalist.

PS, having worked my share of outdoor hard labour jobs, I agree with the OP that if we spent one paid day sitting in an air conditioned room listening to a speech, I wouldn't have written the newspaper.

[metallicat]

Originally Posted by puckluck

Maybe they know something I don't

You think?!

[bcb]

Originally Posted by puckluck

The city really knows how to waste money. She has a point. You see city workers all the time just slacking off.

I know this has nothing to do with the city workers, but why are they paving roads that are perfectly fine? Maybe they know something I don't but all these roads they are paving look very good to me and a waste of tax payer money.

Usually when someone has the road in front of their house paved they are happy, but that wasn't the case for me last month. I was actually pretty pissed off as a citizen that the road that I drive on every day that was in excellent condition was being re-paved.

Is their main goal just to make the workers busy? I really don't understand why they need to re-pave a perfectly fine road. What a waste.

I always envied the guy sitting in the lawn chair holding the 'slow down' sign at the start of construction zones.

[HHW]

Originally Posted by bcb

She has the makings of a great investigative journalist

My guess was 2nd-3rd year English major, schlepping her story to make some money for tuition.

[bcb]

Originally Posted by HHW

My guess was 2nd-3rd year English major, schlepping her story to make some money for tuition.

You'd think the Herald might want to hire syndicated columnists, or at least find some local talent.

[Ramsayfarian]

Originally Posted by HHW

My guess was 2nd-3rd year English major, schlepping her story to make some money for tuition.

More likely she's some editor's niece. Regardless, considering the city is facing a $60,000,000 deficit, her editorial has some valid points.