Sir Roy knocks blame game

STOP BLAMING EACH OTHER!Pointing a finger at someone else is not the way to solve issues affecting the Barbadian workplace since we all may be guilty at some point.That was just one of several sentiments expressed at a panel discussion recently at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre during the launch of Neilson Waithe’s newest book, which looks at understanding the Caribbean worker.During the discussion on the topic The Worker And The Workplace In Barbados – What Do We Need To Improve?, the panellists made it clear that blaming a worker or a leader was not the way to go.According to chairman of the Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados, Sir Roy Trotman, there were two matters which needed to be addressed.“Both have to do with blame. One is, people think that it is an answer to our problems to accept what there is and blame the politicians. The second one is that they do nothing and blame the trade union,” said Sir Roy.He noted that sometimes politicians would be providing legislation in order to make things better but the “public service administration department” would give other instructions, indicating that what the Government said was to be “ignored”.“. . . But we are blaming the politician . . . . In many places we accept behaviour that we know is not correct and rather than endeavouring to have progressive improvement of behaviour, we allow progressive deterioration in the relationship and then you blame me . . . .“it is not my job to charge somebody, it is my job to help make them better workers not to fire them, but too many managers want to find an excuse for not managing,” he said.Sue Springer, executive director of the Barbados Hotel & Tourism Association, said too often people were quick to point a finger at a young worker for their bad attitude, noting that management and older workers were sometimes responsible.She said negativity from staff members frequently affected new workers.“Once people get a negative feeling, it begins to grow . . . when we talk about attitude, what causes attitude? We have to look at all of our workers and this is where I look at management. “We are in charge of what we do in the workplace . . . we have to make sure all the workers have the tools to do their work,” said Springer.“When we look at attitude and productivity we have to look at both sides. And when we point one finger, three . . . are pointing back. We have to look at each and everyone of us,” she said. (MM)