City Hall: "The beatings will continue until morale improves."

Since writing my two posts on our City Manager's management style and potential pay raise, I have been contacted by several city staff AND residents about their experiences.  Several of those who have contacted me have asked that their names not be revealed for fear of retribution.  

I have spent literally hours, hearing and reading stories of staff being called into the City Manager's office and threatened and reprimanded for such heinous actions as talking to the public, talking to the Council, taking the initiative to present new ideas, and other actions underserving of the rebuke they elicited from Mr. Workman.    I am reminded of the old quote capturing the essence of sea captain cruelty in the days of large sailing vessels and exploration:  "The beatings will continue until morale improves." 

I was shocked when one of the City staff revealed that our City Manager ironically moonlights as a management and leadership consultant.  Based on the no confidence vote, Workman hardly seems qualified to give advice on these topics.  I feel for the companies who waste their money and time on this inept leader's advice. I'd ask for a refund.  But, I thought the City Manager was not allowed to hold another job at the same time.... hmmm. 

And it seems the gain has been turned up since the six city unions filed their 98% vote of no confidence with the City Council.  Our City Manager has attempted to stifle the ability of the City Council to hear city worker concerns about his performance.  Workman told the Council they cannot talk to, meet with or listen to City staff under the trumped up reasoning that any discussion at all with City staff would impact salary negotiations and mediations.  While the Council should not talk to staff about their pay or negotiations outside the formal mediation process, there is no reason they cannot hear staff complaints about Workman's performance.... especially with Workman's salary increase and performance review in progress.  

Mayor Aspel and Councilman Ginsberg have been misrepresenting and downplaying City staff complaints as merely salary dissatisfaction to several in the public who have reported in to BBR.  It seems Aspel and Ginsburg both totally ignore or write off the complaints about intimidation, lack or respect and mistreatment.  Both insult city workers by praising Workman's performance to the public.  It is disturbing they would turn a deaf ear to the voices of those who really do the work of the City.   

To top it off, Aspel apparently threw out a thinly veiled threat that City Staff aligning with BBR would be bad for them.  First off, while City staff have contacted me since I wrote my article, they certainly have not aligned or teamed with BBR.  The fact that we both have similar experiences with Workman should be telling to Aspel.  But he jumps to conclusions when he accuses them of teaming with BBR.  Perhaps he forgets that the police and fire unions did not endorse my run for council.  But even worse, it appears Mr. Aspel would cast his vote purely based on his dislike of BBR rather than on the merits of the issue.  This would be petty and vindictive.  Voting on emotion rather than facts does not serve the public interest and has no place in city leadership or decision making.  A 98% vote of no confidence is overwhelming evidence of that Workman's leadership style has devastated City staff morale.  Aspel and the Council should act on that... not their relationship with Workman or their disdain for the residents' group, BBR.

BBR has also received reports that the City's Director of Human Resources quit suddenly on Friday due to the hostile work environment in the City.  Workman sent out a note that she quit over a new job offer with higher salary, but that does not jive with reports from City staff.  BBR has not been able to confirm either side of this story.  But it is indicative of the turmoil and discontent that continues in City Hall. 

Even if you disregard some of the anonymous or heated reports, there can be no denying all six unions and a vast majority of City staff are dissatisfied with Mr. Workman and his leadership style and ability.  The Mayor and City Council are the City Manager's supervisor.  City Council should set aside their personal emotions and relationships, do their job in the best interest of the public, and address the issue directly and decisively by issuing Mr. Workman his walking papers.  Then Workman can devote all his time to his second job at 7workscenter, and City staff can go through a healing process under new managment.