"WTF? PROACTIVE….OR REACTIVE? THAT'S THE QUESTION…"

Hi Friends!

Today's "WTF?" © stevenn beck

The CDC proudly announces its plan to make sure protocol is followed and further spread of Ebola is prevented…AFTER the first US case is discovered, the person dies….and two health care workers are infected.

The MTA proudly announces its plan to "fit and fortify" subway tunnels/infrastructure….AFTER Hurricane Sandy strikes.

Metro-North proudly announces its new security and safety measures….AFTER several accidents and fatalities occur on Metro-North trains.

The City of NY proudly announces its new initiatives to limit the flooding caused by future storms….AFTER decades had passed in which numerous scientists/meteorologists had made DOZENS of predictions about the catastrophic effects a major storm would have on the region…

Hmmm. Is there a pattern here?

All this reminds me that when I took over as the manager of my office I noticed that the side door to the building remained wide open - propped up by a chair - until all the employees had reported for work. (The front doors were locked; the public came in later.) "Gee" I thought "That doesn't look very safe." So I wrote a memorandum to my direct boss to ask for funds so that I could have an outside combination lock be installed - employees would be able to get inside using the correct combination but otherwise the door would be closed. My boss immediately approved my memorandum, immediately sending it to HER boss who also immediately approved it…the memorandum eventually ended up in the Regional Office for final approval and disbursement of funds for the lock - a totally reasonable - and necessary request , right. (Management was being….dare I say it? PROACTIVE?) Weeks later a team from Facilities Management arrived to "review" the situation. After spending hours in my facility - one of the members of the team also spent some time flirting with a female employee- I guess, you know, so that he could "maximize" the productivity of his visit - the team agreed that the request was justified - duhhh? - and returned to RO to write their report. Twice I received phone calls from OTHER Regional Office officials asking for a "clarification". More time went by….

One morning I arrived at work to find a VERY LARGE - and VERY UNHAPPY - DOG terrorizing my staff. The animal had wandered into the office through the open door. Some of the employees had jumped onto their desks to escape- others fled into the restrooms and auxiliary offices, locking the doors behind them. At least two employees were chased by the dog - probably also scared since he had wandered into a confined space with a staff full of screaming human beings…one employee was almost bitten by the animal. (And another employee later on filed for "worker's compensation" - missing considerable work time - due to the tremendous stress and trauma.)

My subordinate supervisor and myself eventually coaxed the dog out the door. I reported all this to my superiors….that afternoon authorization for the funds arrived and I hired a local locksmith to install the requested lock.

Geesh. Government. (And psuedo-governmental agencies.) Proactive - or reactive?

WTF?

Bye for now- :-) be safe!

Stevenn