Innovators Beware

How the Ministry of Labour and Citizens' Services of the government of British Columbia handles requests for assistance in creating improvement-focused work environments


Times of transition are sometimes difficult. In 2001, the government of BC announced steps to refresh the public service in effect to replace indolence and decay with efficiency and energy. The goals of the BC Ministry of Labour and Citizens' Services were stated to be to create positive work environments which encourage creative, results oriented solutions, team work and innovation; however, in practice the Ministry of Labour and Citizens' Services maintains it's ability to coerce analysts, manipulate data, and discriminate.

After the success of the e-statsBC project (new software made process 250 to 350 times faster with no potential for human error by omitting cutting and pasting), I wanted the people who made it a success, Richard Armitage, Keith Morris, Don L., and Paul Gosh to receive some acknowledgement for their efforts. I was pointed to a government website and was surprised to see that there were two types of acknowledgement for innovations...1) for a product that is both a good idea and has practical application and 2) for people who help create "a positive, supportive, inclusive, and improvement-focused work environment". Since I was being yelled at for being actively involved in suggesting and providing creative solutions, I asked the following.....


-----Original Message-----
From:
Sent: Tuesday, July 12, 2005 9:34 AM
To: Taylor, Erika PSA:EX
Subject: Feedback - Innovations Inventory

MessageType:      Problem
Subject:          (Other)
SubjectOther:     Organizational Performance & Development
Username:         Warren Munroe
Ministry:         Minister of Labour and Citizens' Services
Program:
UserEmail:        Warren.Munroe@gov.bc.ca
UserTel:          387-0334
UserFAX:
ContactRequested:

Comments:

Is there assistance available to help create a positive, supportive, inclusive, and improvement-focused work environment?

It took some time to get a responce during which I met with the Director of BC Stats, Don McRae, asking for help to address the hostile work environment. He said that he had seen this kind of thing before and something to the effect that it was awful, but that I should continue to do what I was doing, persevere, or move on. I pointed out that good communication skills would help improve the quality of the work for the Population Section.

Eventually, I received this reply to my request for assistance to help create a positive work environment........


-----Original Message-----
From: Taylor, Erika PSA:EX
Sent: August 17, 2005 1:22 PM
To: Munroe, Warren MSER:EX
Subject: FW: Feedback - Innovations Inventory
Hi Warren. Sorry for my delay in responding to you as I have been off on holidays. Could you provide my with additional information as to what type of assistance you are looking for in order to link you up with the appropriate person. Thanks,
Erika Taylor
Corporate Initiatives and Solutions
Leadership and Learning Centre
BC Public Service Agency
(250) 387-0460

I repied....


-----Original Message-----
From: Munroe, Warren MSER:EX
Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 2005 1:49 PM
To: Taylor, Erika PSA:EX
Subject: RE: Feedback - Innovations Inventory

Hello Erika,

Since starting to work here 3 1/2 years ago I have made many improvements to the way my job is done. In the latest project, I was able to get contractors to make a program that can make queriable websites of all of our data. This has resulted in a great time saving and allows us to be able to focus on the quality of the data. This project and the others have been embraced by many but not so by others. These others have been leveling personal attacks at me because of these innovations. It has gotten so bad that I am looking else where for employment, but would rather stay and see these improvements through. Help.


Warren

Erika repied....


-----Original Message-----
From: Taylor, Erika PSA:EX
Sent: August 17, 2005 2:22 PM
To: Munroe, Warren MSER:EX
Subject: RE: Feedback - Innovations Inventory

Warren you appear to be in a possible harrassment situation and I urge you to contact your Client Services HR Consultant Carol Gore to discuss it and possible steps that could be taken to remedy the situation. Good luck and all the best,


Erika

I emailed Carol Gore, my Client Services HR Consultant.......


-----Original Message-----
From: Munroe, Warren MSER:EX
Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 2005 3:39 PM
To: Gore, Carol PSA:EX
Subject: FW: Feedback - Innovations Inventory

Hello Carol,

I am interested in finding ways to help create a positive work environment. Are resources available that you could point me to?

Thank you,


Warren
From: Gore, Carol PSA:EX
Sent: August 18, 2005 10:53 AM
To: Munroe, Warren MSER:EX
Subject: RE: Feedback - Innovations Inventory

Warren: Thank you for your e-mail. I would definitely like to speak with you about the issues you're facing and discuss possible means of addressing them. I'm sorry to report that my day today and tomorrow morning are basically lost to meetings, but may I call you tomorrow afternoon? If you haven't a confidential place to speak, perhaps we can meet instead. If you wish to leave me a voicemail message today, my phone number is 387-0385.

P.S. Is your manager aware of the difficulties you're experiencing?


Carol Gore eventually told me that she represents management and she sided with the manager and got my co-workers (the ones who had been yelling at me) to write letters to complain about me. The BCGEU sided with my co-workers. My requests for team effectiveness training, which Ms. Gore suggested at first, and mediation were refused by the Minister of Labour and Citizens' Services and instead, I was suspended and then fired, dismissed for "just cause". I did get a proposal form to recognise the efforts of people involved in the e-statsBC project but this only increased the antagonism from my co-workers and I was fired before I could get in the forms. My requests for arbitration have also been refused.



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