There’s no doubt these are difficult times for city employees
who have witnessed layoffs of co-workers and been forced to take
furloughs. It’s not an easy time to be a City Council member,
either. It’s easier to govern when the money’s flowing, far tougher
when the till is dry. What everyone at City Hall needs to remember
is that morale is a two-way street.
There’s no doubt these are difficult times for city employees who have witnessed layoffs of co-workers and been forced to take furloughs. It’s not an easy time to be a City Council member, either. It’s easier to govern when the money’s flowing, far tougher when the till is dry. What everyone at City Hall needs to remember is that morale is a two-way street.
There are likely some things that the City Council can do to improve morale. But throwing money at the problem is not the right course of action. Councilman’s Craig Gartman’s agenda item, bringing to the table a $16,000 expenditure for city service awards, sends the wrong message.
Offering employees the option of a $125 gold pen from a catalogue for 10 years of service isn’t the answer. Some creative ideas which combine recognition with a sharp eye on the budget should do the trick.
What does that mean? Well, it might mean a handwritten thank-you note for a job well done or a phone call from a Councilmember combined with a certificate for a holiday turkey from Nob Hill Foods.
Gilroy is simply not in a position to spend money doing the same old things the way it did in the “good old days.” No city is.
Perhaps the Council could boost morale in an entirely different way. Maybe Councilmembers could lead a campaign inside City Hall to help the Salvation Army or St. Joseph’s Family Center feed the poor this holiday season. There’s nothing like a little perspective to help soften a poor attitude.
Reaching a middle ground between “The Council doesn’t care one iota about the city employees” and “They ought to shut up, they’re lucky to have a job at all” is the goal.
Employees who constantly gripe and inject that poison into the workplace at every opportunity should take a long look in the mirror. What good does it do, really, for the city and for the person doing the moping?
Meanwhile, the Council and City Administrator Tom Haglund should engage in a heartfelt discussion about what could be undertaken to improve City Hall morale without incurring significant expense. Everyone should understand that reality, and work through the tough times together.
