Sharing Your Story
If any of you are taking some time off over the holidays and are so inclined, there's a new project up and running to collect the stories of government workers to combat negative attitudes the public has towards government. Called I Am Public Service, the campaign follows both the Office of Personnel Management and the National Treasury Employees Union in trying to humanize federal department and agencies.
I've often though an apt metaphor for public perception of federal employees might be a kind of reverse Picture of Dorian Gray. Rather than hiding away a portrait that ages and is corrupted while Dorian stays forever young, the public has an image of the federal workforce that fluctuates with the current mood, but that frequently bears little resemblance to the actual lived experience of feds on the job. I don't know how to bridge that divide in perception, but I'm always interested in what individual people's experiences have been. So if you do post over at I Am Public Service, let me know, so I can point our readers there!
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ABOUT THIS BLOG
Government Executive Staff Correspondent Alyssa Rosenberg takes a look at news affecting the management and operations of the massive federal bureaucracy.
I Am Public Service. August 3, 2007, I was fired from the Department of Veterans Affairs as the Birmingham VA Medical Center Chief Information Officer (CIO) for cooperating with the Office of Inspector General (OIG).
Johnny Wilson Posted Friday, December 19, 2008 8:18 AMI am a Federal employee that protects employee rights. I don't engage in any of the "sexy" jobs that are listed on the "I am Public Service" website, like homeland security, renewable energy, space, battle, or responding to natural disasters. It seems when it comes to Federal employees, most people don't want to hear about the vast majority of employees who are the lawyers, administrative personnel, accountants, truck drivers, clerks, ALJs, investigators for numerous regulatory agencies, etc., that most people have never heard of or never come into contact with but, without whom, their living and working conditions would be the poorer. When are we going to see a website about that?
Public Servant Posted Friday, December 19, 2008 8:48 AMHi Alyssa,
Thanks for mentioning "I Am Public Service" here in FedBlog.
The challenges before us are immense and there are incredible people affiliated with government that are creating viable solutions. Their work should be shared in order to shape a more favorable public opinion of the public sector personnel who ensure an efficient and effective use of our tax dollars.
As we receive submissions, we will be sure to keep you posted.
Andrew Krzmarzick (I Am Public Service) Posted Friday, December 19, 2008 9:09 AMThe perception is exacerbated by presidents who paint that very picture, who dismantle systems and regulations that were working to protect citizens--do not include extremely wealthy investors here, although they are indeed citizens even if they don't act with much national interest and commitment to preserve national integrity and The Constitution.
Given the state of America's checkbook, I'd think that a job in government is looking increasingly appealing. Frankly, I wouldn't worry about it--most impressions are based on visceral reactions to inaccurate information about government programs, policies and employees.
Jackson Richards Posted Friday, December 19, 2008 10:03 AMI'm a public servant and have a job for life. I get annual raises and promotions because I have good attendance. Last year I worked thru 1 on my break because I was so engrossed in my video poker game. I'll be off on the 26th, and make $117K a year, what do the little people do, again???
dan ketter Posted Monday, December 22, 2008 10:03 AMI am a retired Public Service. I spent thirty one and a half years at Norfolk Naval Shirpyard. I did not do it myself, but I know folks that were the first to go into the USS Cole to pull those kids bodies out of that ship. As a Nuclear Inspector I watched them perform work on submarines and aircraft carriers for hours in areas where the temperature was well over 100 degrees and in the dry dock where the temperature was well below freezing and for alot less that the 117K Dan Keeter throws out there all the time. I don't know what Dan does other than sit around and post his hatred for Civil Servants in govexec.com. I do know this though, Dan Keeter is not good enough to sit fire watch for those folks. The man is a jerk.
W D Jackson Posted Tuesday, December 23, 2008 10:29 PM