We are consistently being told by Government ministers, business people and other leaders that given the tough economic times we’re in “it can’t be business as usual”.
That is, as workers we must increase our efficiency and boost our productivity to achieve greater levels of production. We must too, provide a higher quality of service in every sector and project more positive attitudes on the job.
I totally support this concept.
I am convinced that getting these aspects right is critical to our ability as a country to earn our way in the world. But we can’t just keep talking about this. We must do something tangible to get every citizen involved in this process so that they can realize the seriousness of the issue.
Possibly a nationwide education programme, with periodic evaluations to assess its effectiveness, would be useful.
Though such a programme would bring immense benefits as people buy into the concept, the reality is that each of us needs to recognize that we can make a difference at our workplace if we have a more positive attitude as well as if we are as efficient and productive as possible with the tools with which we have to work.
With three decades of work experience in both the public and private sectors as well as being an entrepreneur, I have come to recognize that most people are motivated by positive leadership, and a well articulated vision for the way forward, particularly if their views were canvassed and included in the proposal.
Conversely, they respond least and are most unproductive when working under management who only talk about meeting financial targets, rarely take onboard suggestions from them, and generally treats them as unimportant assets who are easily replaceable. This disrespect does not build loyalty and is often counterproductive.
That said, our focus here is to look at what is really being done in Government, in particular, to signal that “it can’t be business as usual”.
What systems have been put in place in the last 18 months, or are being planned, to improve efficiency and boost productivity? What policies have been implemented to achieve the same goal?
Quite frankly, I have not heard of anything definitive – though to be fair, that does not mean some measures have not been quietly implemented. If such specific initiatives have been taken one only hopes that they are consistently evaluated to meet the needs they were designed to achieve.
Two policy changes I would recommend to demonstrate a determined change to boost national productivity would be for Government offices to work on Saturdays, and the information on the various Government services made available online with the accompanying application forms and ability to pay.
The latter point is one being actively pursued, but is such a significant step in demonstrating Government’s seriousness to increase efficiency that every effort should be made to speed up the availability of such services.
This would make it easier for people here or overseas to get the necessary information related to a matter and be able to apply and pay for it without having to leave their workplace and be caught up in the traffic congestion that grips our highways.
For those living overseas, it would mean having the assurance of getting their business effectively fast tracked without having to rely on a relative or friend to leave their workplace and do this favour for them.
Of course, this system would only be effective if someone routinely responds to emails received and, where necessary, decisions taken with dispatch on the applications made.
As for Government offices to be opened on Saturday, this should minimize the loss of productive hours from all classes of workers who have to leave their workplaces to transact business during the week. This move would also provide more accessibility for people to pay for licences and taxes.
I am not suggesting that those civil servants who work in offices should have to do so six days a week – no!
Rather, they can work a five-day week with Sunday and one other day between Monday and Saturday as their off day. This is nothing revolutionary as the majority of public servants – Customs, Immigration, police, nurses, and fire officials – already work like this.
Indeed, as it was related to me, up to 1972, civil servants worked on Saturdays as a rule. Then, their hours of work were either 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. or 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
This was changed after consultation with the trade unions to Monday to Friday from 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Therefore, what is being proposed here needs only the agreement of the trade unions.
And as they are interested more than ever in boosting productivity as a means to ensuring job security, they would give careful consideration to any idea that may help the economy.
As for those who are Seventh Day Adventists, they would have to bring a signed letter from the pastor of their congregation each year to exclude them from this.
Based on experience, I realize people take what is said more seriously when they can see efforts being made. Therefore, one way we can get Barbadians to believe that “it cannot be business as usual” is to do things that clearly demonstrate attempts are being made to break the rut.
