PUBLIC INQUIRY

Staff at FRO have received a couple of separate notices from the ADM and her assistant, regarding staff feedback. The ADM offered to address staff comments and complaints, while the DM is working on a way to do the same.

This, as a matter of principle is good news. However, let’s bring back some history and read between the lines:
At FRO, complaining about something has always been a joke. You complain to the Director or the ADM about a service or manager’s abuse and your letter will end at the manager’s desk! The next day, you see that the manager avoid saying “Hi” to you. And because managers have their own friends within their teams, with whom they consult about confidential issues, you end up being looked down even by their friends.

In other words, when you comment or complain, the Director who is supposed to discretely investigate the issue, prefers taking the shortest cut possible: She tells the manager and accepts his/her version only. The hell be with the plaintiff staff! He/she is only a call center agent anyways, while managers are the policy makers, the problem solvers and the program saviors.

There are documented examples of this in the different departments of FRO and this blog has received quite a few.

Now, here’s the question: Will the current ADM come up with a different policy to address staff comments or is it going to be the same old autocratic method that has created clans within FRO and still impedes work to be done properly? How will she address the fear of repression within staff, which results from complaints.

As to the DM, history also shows that she receives complaints and relies on the Director to investigate for her. The Director, again, meets with the specific manager and advises him/her that so and so has submitted a complaint. They decide what to report to the DM. The DM office may send a response, which you already know. You also know that you will be targeted by that manager and you feel the percussions of daring to complain the very next day!

Why doesn’t the DM send external investigators? Does she lack resources or creativity? Is this the way an Executive of the Government of Ontario, in charge of the Ethics, is supposed to deal with staff?

In an attempt to undermine staff fear of repression, which is widely known, the DM also asked staff to use the Intranet to contact her without having to include their names!!!!! How can you send a message from your government computer to the DM office and via the Intranet, without her knowing who you are?

You must be joking, Ms Lucille!
You must find a better way to guarantee the confidentiality of staff comments and complaints, which end up in cafes and restaurants. Find a better way to investigate staff issues and get these managers-idiots to stop their ruling attitude.

The DM and her assistant are of course trying to turn staff away from using the Blog, and we, the blog team, don’t have a problem with that at all, as long the alternative is credible and serves the best interest of the staff.
This blog has been a safe way to comment and complain and has played so far a unique role at FRO.

Yes, some managers still behave the same old unethical way i.e dating FRO staff, spending hours chatting or eating out on the government time, etc. Their stupid purpose is to show a challenging attitude to those who commented on them in the blog. We know they will continue to do so as long as the Director protects them. The sad thing is that their attitude does not only challenge the unhappy call center agent, it is a challenge to a whole system that was created so many years ago to serve and protect the best interest of Ontarians.

There should be a public inquiry against these managers and their Director.

Maybe a different government will address this better.