31
postive measures of good personnal
management which command the re
spect of employees and minimize dis
satisfaction. Instead of relying upon
drastic prohibitions or mere good inten
tions, public administrators and com
missions must be genuinely anxious to
learn of grievances and to adjust them
promptly. A good executive cannot af
ford to be ignorant of the conditions
which interfere with efficiency and
morale. N or can he afford to wait until
the matters involved have become pub
lic issues and of concern to the legisla
ture. Especially important, therefore,
is the establishment of adequate ma
chinery for the prompt, sympathetic
and effective handling of employee
problems.
How may employee cooperation in
the improvement of government oper
ations be obtained?
Administrators and others familiar
with the public service submit con
trasting observations with respect to
the interest shown by employee associa
tions in improving operating efficiency.
Some comments praise their work high
ly; others are like the report of a
prominent national figure who, after
long, active experience with employee
association and often in their behalf,
writes: "I must admit that I am disap
pointed because of the little interest
these organizations take in improving
the service rendered to the public. . I
cannot help believing that they would
benefit even their own interests by de
voting more time to such betterment
of service.”
Unquestionably part of the answer
is the wider development in government
agencies of executive leadership capable
of inducing such cooperation, But in
large measure also the answer lies, in the
adoption of pursuance of high ideals of
employee associations themselves and
by their own leaders. A first need is the
display of right spirit on both sides.
But a second need is the development
of the machinery which will most easily
use the cooperative possibilities of em
ployee groups.
Should organizations of government
employees be restricted in political ac
tivities?
Aside from tangible bases for their
united action they wish to exercise their
privilege as citizens to influence public
and legislative opinion. Therefore, even
when the employee- organization may
take a purely partisan view no admin
istrator should attem pt to close the nor
mal evenues of approach which citizens
and employees have to their friends in
the legislature or to bar them from pre
senting their point of view formally in
hearings provided by legislative and ad
ministrative procedure. The chief rem
edy for the administrator is to support
fully his position before the authorities
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SALEM CONCRETE PIPE & PRODUCTS CO.
Culvert - Sewer - Irrigation - Drain - Blocks
PIPE
150 Beech Ave.
Portland Road
Salem, Oregon
Phone 3500