But the “You Are Essential” mantra doesn’t change the fact that some people were required to work during the shutdown, while some were furloughed. That situation could mean some awkwardness when the government reopens. So how do you deal with the potential land mines?
Tom Fox is the Vice President for Leadership and Innovation at the Partnership for Public Service. He told Chris Dorobek on the DorobekINSIDER program that leaders need to publicly address the “essential” question openly, honestly and right away.
“There are people on both sides of the equation who are going to be frustrated or upset for a very valid set of reasons. At town halls or any sort of welcome back, leaders need to cut through some of that tension. The message has to cascade throughout the organization to say that some of this is just semantics. The essential vs. non-essential is a designation for simply keeping the lights on and the trains running on time, not how it relates to mission work. Some people still harbor hurt feelings from the shutdown 17 years ago. It is easy to see why. The shutdown has been a real hardship for folks. You have to address it head on and realize that those feelings may last awhile. If you leave them unaddressed they will last forever,” said Fox.
When government reopens, how do you get people plugged in?
“You have to re-recruit your employees. You have all the burden of being out work for the past three weeks that has built up. All the scheduling issues and the impact on peoples vacation plans. You have to help them once again reconnect to the mission and the impact of the organization. Sure leaders should be focused on some of the administration elements of the shutdown – the nightmare – but don’t lose track of the people aspect of this whole situation. Really think about what you can do to re-create a positive and productive work environment,” said Fox.
What are the steps you can take?
“There is no one answer or solution. But there are a lot of things you can try to demonstrate to your employees that you really want to make a difference:
- It starts when the government reopens – the first day of business – if the Secretary and the senior leaders can be there to literally welcome them back to the job.
- Hold a town hall meeting to emphasize the organization’s mission. It is not the political leadership within the agencies who demanded the shutdown – it is happening on Capitol Hill. Employees won’t be blaming you but they will be looking to you to for some leadership. That way you not only convey your message but you open up the dialogue so that folks can legitimately share their concerns.
- Provide a personal touch because the shutdown has caused employees personal difficulties. Managers should be prepared to write letters to banks, lenders, creditors explaining the furlough and asking for special circumstances. They need to explain why employees, through no fault of their own, were unable to make payments. Demonstrate that it is not just professional pursuits but it is also personal matters that will really help people re-engage around the mission.
Prioritize the work
“We found through our Best Places to Work in the Federal Government rankings that it is really the mission that matters most to public servants. So to the greatest extent possible, not just in a town hall meeting, but in your prioritization of the work that has built up over the past few weeks, think about what is going to help people see that they are in fact once again making a contribution to the mission. The key is to not add to the work load. Don’t want to swamp your employees upon their return. That’s why helping them prioritize is key. It will help employees not just feel a sense of progress but accomplishment,” said Fox.
What shouldn’t you do?
“Don’t wallow in self pity. Be empathetic, but once the government reopens it is time to get back to work. I think back to the Sammies a few weeks ago and Tony Mendez who was the star of Argo. He talked about how once he completed the mission of getting those Americans to safety from Iran, he immediately turned to his partner and said ‘ok, let’s get back to work.’ I think that is what needs to happen here too. Focus on what you can do,” said Fox.
Beat back bureaucracy
“Help employees cut through the red tape. There will be a backlog of work that folks will need to get through, so try to make things as administratively simple and efficient as possible. They don’t feel that they are getting buried by process,” said Fox.
You can find all of GovLoop’s shutdown coverage here.