Would we expect anything else?

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

Carrot or the stick?
Perhaps the county is using raises as way to encourage their employees to do better, rather than reward them for accomplishing what might be considered their basic job description.

Go back 100 years. Did Kona even have water wells to break down through incompetence? See how far we've come using their fine tuned compensation system?

Percentage change in the level of glyphosate, an herbicide, in Americans’ urine since 1993 : +1,200. Harper's Index

[KeaauRich]

From what I hear from County employees at all levels, geochem is spot on. To expand on the "lowest bidder" example, apparently Finance has the final say on purchasing decisions, despite the fact that they have no expertise in other department's functions. They can override department head recommendations and veto the purchasing of goods and services that were included in a department's Council-approved budget. When the spit hits the fan, the department head takes the fall and purchasing escapes all blame.

[geochem]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Mac2017

That's a well articulated response that I can respect. U certainly gave me something to think about. I would only respond by adding substandard employees in the private sector are terminated not promoted or given raises.

---

But this isn't the private sector - where you have some control over project staff. Asking state/county managers to fall on their swords due to the failures of subordinates and a system that they have negligible control over doesn't improve things... It simply reduces the pool of prospective applicants to the terminally stupid.

I once had a colleague comment that we are in a sorry situation when "the State is the employer of last resort".

The people who could fix it - the people who write the laws and rules - aren't going to risk the effort as long as they know that they are going to be re-elected in perpetuity (with the support of the unions) ....

ETA - and good luck to the aspiring politician who proposes to enact a law restricting public employee unions from conducting campaigning for candidates to public office... Actually, back in the "good old days", State and County employees were expected to do campaign-related work during duty hours at state and county facilities...

[kalakoa]

How do the pay rates for County and State positions stack up against what can be had in the private sector?

Irrelevant when that "private sector" doesn't exist here.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

the people who write the laws and rules - aren't going to risk the effort as long as they know that they are going to be re-elected in perpetuity

The Circle of Life.
State and County workers are a huge voting block. Election Day is an official government sanctioned holiday for government employees, which allows the largest voting block in Hawaii the entire day off to get to the polls and protect their own best interests.

Percentage change in the level of glyphosate, an herbicide, in Americans’ urine since 1993 : +1,200. Harper's Index

[Kapoho Joe]

quote:

---

Originally posted by glinda

I think it's sad when people belittle others getting raises. And to bitch about government employees getting raises is complete BS. Folks that do so are (imo) very small minded, petty.

---

Spoken like a current or former government employee!

[glinda]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Kapoho Joe

quote:

---

Originally posted by glinda

I think it's sad when people belittle others getting raises. And to bitch about government employees getting raises is complete BS. Folks that do so are (imo) very small minded, petty.

---

Spoken like a current or former government employee!

---

No, never have been.

Thanks to geochem for articulating my point. He obviously has more patience than I over what seems to be a no brainer. People bitch about the cost and they bitch about the quality but often seem to forget that one and the other go hand in hand. And, yes, it's more complicated, and culturally more entrenched, but still that old adage: "you get what you pay for" rings true.

[kalakoa]

I think it's sad when people belittle others getting raises.

AHEM. I have no problem with raises/bonuses for merit/performance. Show me either of these coming from County.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

still that old adage: "you get what you pay for" rings true.

I'd settle for that. In Hawaii the old adage is more like "you don't get what you pay for."

Percentage change in the level of glyphosate, an herbicide, in Americans’ urine since 1993 : +1,200. Harper's Index

[bluesboy]

and here's the kicker - if you don't like it - move somewhere else!