Governor Lynch should consider 4-day work week

I see what you're getting at there All State employees are well aware of the stereotypes (some well-deserved, others not so much) that go along with being an employee of the State, but it really is the exception and not the rule. When I left the State, shortly after my position was frozen. It's still frozen. A good friend of mine that I worked with the entire time I was with the State is now stuck covering all my responsibilities and still getting paid just his own salary. I'm not saying he should be paid my old salary as well, I'm merely saying we were busy enough when it was two of us. Rather than upgrade my old position and slide him into that they chose to freeze all the positions so he is going on month 7 now without what was a no brainer reclassification for him. Sadly, we've seen that all too often with the State. The IT staff that works for the Department of Safety's is very understaffed, and maybe to their detriment they do an amazing job and make up for the lack of staff.

There are many agencies that are dubbed non-essential that could more than likely do very well with a 4-day work week. 

I just read this from the Times site

O.K, o.k., you caught me in my nefarious scheme of reducing the state's burden on the rest of us to the bare minimum, and not a penny more. Given your background, I bet you know a lot of non-essential state positions. But being the magnanimous guy that I am, I'll start the list including whole departments we should get rid of:

1. Department of Cultural Resources: with special prejudice for Division of Hysterical Resources. I don't know of any one they saved, or protected from someone else trying to usurp their civil rights, but I know of plenty of instances where they have done same to others. Good riddance.
2. Board of Registration of Funeral Directors and Embalmer: I don't need no stinkin' bureaucrat to tell me how to leave planet earth, thanks.
3. Film and Television Office: ya, I know, they're part of Cultural Resources, but can you really believe the state takes (steals) money from people to pay Hollywood? Can a brotha' get a break around here?
4. Board of Barbering, Cosmetology, and Esthetics: you have got to be kidding me. We involuntarily pay for this crap?

O.K, now it's your turn Daniel to list some no-brainers. Once you get into it, it's kinda fun, and quite simple - there's some real easy lay-ups out there that I left for you. I'd love to see what an "insider" comes up with because you know where the big pork bellies are. Thanks for playin'.

- Obsessively combing through the state's website looking for pockets of gold,

C. dog e. doG

I will say that the Registry of Motor Vehicles has become much more efficient over the years.  There are some state agencies like the Secretary of State's office where the service has improved greatly.  Other agencies that promote tourism and business are doing a great job as well.

The issue that I have with public servants that all of them, whether it be Federal, state or local are stuck in the 40 hour (37.5 in actuality) work week mentally.  That, couple with a union that pushes for higher and higher wages leaves a bad taste with most people.

When 4 O'clock comes, the exodus begins.  Having been a state employee some 30 years ago, it was just as prevalent then.

Being in the private sector, we don't work on a clock.  When the work is done, we leave and go home.  Some weeks we work 45 hours and others 65.  Most of us take pride in what we do and see it through to it's completion no matter how many hours it takes.

Salaries?   Yes the salaries of state workers are not competitive with the private sector and I understand the reluctance of many to do anything above and beyond.

The issue for me is the unionization of the employees.  Professionals of any stripe should not be unionized with set parameters and working inside of a well defined box.  Non-Essential kind of wreaks of hackery.  Look to our South and the mess of nepotism that goes on.

BTW-It happens here as well in New Hampshire.  I do not think that the employees are overpaid nor do I think that they are underpaid.  To work 37.5 hours and be able to leave without taking that job home (as you do every day in the private sector) is a pretty good deal before you even look at the money.

Now, dog makes a good point, there are some 'feel good' programs that, maybe, we can not afford right now.  There is also alot of partisanship within the ranks of employees.  Politics exists in all arenas of the workplace but only if we play into it.

Dog, remember, some of those fees for Barbering licenses and embalming help us avoid an income and sales tax.  Something most state employees probably want as they view that as the pot of gold to increase their wages. 

I wonder if anyone has considered allowing some state employees to work from their homes.  As long as the work is defined and results measured, that would be an attractive situation for anyone.  It would probably only work for administrators.

Beyond that, they could write off the space that they use in their home on their federal income taxes as well.

Of  course that would not work in every instance.  The flex time bit sounds attractive as well.

I re-read your post and your friend picked up the slack of your job is what you said, I believe.  He is probably doing it and handling it well I imagine.

That is what happens in the private sector all of the time.  I think that the perception is that state employees, many of them are one trick ponies or a cog in the machine.  I certainly remember it being that way as well many years ago.  There is no efficiency in that.  If I were your friend, I would look at it like this:  "I have a job and I am safe in this union position".  Then, he should do some freelance IT work on the side.

Just a thought! 

Quote from Bill Bunker:

"Being in the private sector, we don't work on a clock.  When the work is done, we leave and go home.  Some weeks we work 45 hours and others 65."

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I am assuming that you are referring to salaried employees in the private sector not working on a clock.

I am a HOURLY State Employee now (as most of us are), and I am limited to the amount of "extra" work that I can get done because of the general freeze on overtime.  If you think I am going to "sacrifice" my free time (that I am not being paid for) to stay late to complete a project, you are crazy... and if anyone does this as an hourly worker, they are even crazier.

When I was an HOURLY worker in the private sector (which technically I still am - as Rank N Filers just don't get paid that well with the State, a second job is usually mandatory), my attitude was no different.  I got my work done before 4PM, because that's when I was to punch out.  If someone asked me to work late, I certainly would...but you can bet your arse that I would be getting paid to do so.

In 2008, public service is not an honor.  It is a job.  Period.  Folks that glamourize it are simply wrong. 

True, it is just a job. A lot of people that run out the door when their shift is over are people that:

 1. Aren't paid enough as it is, so their time is valuable to them. Maybe they are running off to another job for all people know. I know many state employees that have more than one.

2. Don't feel appreciated and it is just a job to them.

3. Are overworked and underpaid. When you see people getting paid a lot more than you, doing far less than you, and have far less experience than you, it makes you want to just put in your time and leave at the end of the day.

He does do his job well, but that doesn't mean he isn't overwhelmed with the work load he has been given.

You're assuming all State workers are in the union. Just because there are some that do belong to the union, I know more people that are NOT in the union. When the State forced the Fair Share fees the union said they had a right to collect for collectively bargaining for State employees you saw more people with the State wanting to say goodbye to a union that in my opinion is one of the worst unions around. My grandfather founded the janitor's union in Massachusetts, my grandmother was pretty high up in the Ma Bell/Nynex union back in the day, and my father was part of the shipbuilder's union in Quincy, Mass. My family has very deep roots in unions and they all agree 100% that the union that represents State employees does little to nothing as far as benefiting the members. If you are in the union good luck trying to leave it as well.

If you aren't in the union and you get in trouble at work even though you pay your "Fair Share" you don't get representation. Don't think most state employees are in the union because if they reexamine the numbers they'll see the majority of them are not.

I worked for OIT and we were 5 votes shy of kicking our union to the curb. 5. When you think about that, it's really only 3 votes, because if 3 of those 5 people voted the other way we would have been free from the union.

PuNoPo-NH

I just can't stop myself from staring at all that pork just sitting there for the taking. Here's my preliminary top ten swindles brought to you by the Republicrat and Demublican Parties of New Hampshire:

1. Board of Acupuncture Licensing: now we need someone to tell us how to poke holes in someone else using ancient Chinese secret? Ya, WASP's have a lot of experience with that. What next, "Granny D" telling us which tiger private part is best as an aphrodisiac? Think of the chilren, and the message this sends.
2. Council on the Arts: just what I need, a group of pols sitting around the coffee table having crumpets and tea deciding such profundities as "Qu'est-ce que c'est d'art?" and "what will we make the suckers pay for this time?".
3. Boxing and Wrestling Commission: now this one makes sense, former pugilists deciding the proper way for us to pound one another into submission - sounds like a metaphor for government.
4. Commission on the Status of Gals / ditto for Guys: I get the first one as I have a budding interest in their whereabouts, the other one, haaan, not so much.
5. Board of Dental Examiners: after they pull our teeth to extract the gold, what next, the Buttocks Inspection Board? ... ouch!
6. Liquor Commission & Lottery Commission: so, we first pay the state to get drunk, then we gamble away our paycheck, all to the betterment of za Party (I mean State). What next, the Prostitute Commission to round out the three deadly sins? Sodom and Gomorrah got nothin' on us.
7. Board of Manufactured Housing: ya, that was a concern of mine, right after manufactured jobs by pols and hacks.
8. Marital Mediator Certification Board: is this where I go to annul my shotgun marriage to the State?
9. Bored of Nursing: Finally, something I can sink my teeth into, especially when I'm tired. I want my Nanny!
10. Board of Medicine: is there also a Board of Pow Wow? Do they critique how well the medicine man dances doing the two-step shaman shuffle? And are they the ones that grade the potency of pot. That would really help me out in all this confusion of how New Hampshire helps me help them help me.

Sooo come on, guys and gals, get into the spirit of this game, and let's play some hard hittin' PuNoPo-NH! (Purge Non-essential Positions from New Hampshire Government) Current and former state employees, don't fret none, you can play too. In fact, this would be a great way for you to dis' other departments and problem personalities ... nod, nod, wink, wink, know what I mean?

- Still pondering what all those people are doing in all those cubicles in all those buildings on Hazen Drive,
C. dog e. doG

Atari1977,

I understand your point.  I was referring to the salaried folks.  I know quite a few who go over and above.....and others who do just what they need to get by.

In the private sector, those who do the latter, seldom are kept on board at a company.

I agree with you that if you are being paid hourly, you should work your scheduled shift...no issue there.

I think that those who do not work for the state get the wrong idea......an example:

I have heard this from 100's of people:  

You drive by six state highway workers......one guy is digging a hole and the other 5 are standing around watching.  I am not sure what is going on but I have certainly seen that.

I am not diminishing state workers.  I will tell you that it is worse at the federal level.

I looked at wages on line and the salaried positions are quite numerous and if you read the job description they are so narrow and specialized.  In the corporate world two or three of those would be multitasked into one job.  Then again, state pay is not on par with corporate pay.

Thanks for responding!