City Staff Ideas Challenge
#nycspeaks2022 Share your ideas for bold actions the Mayor should take
Make telework an option for positions where teleworking works. Working from home can reduce the city budget for office space, office equipment, office supplies, insurance, utilities and many more. Teleworking should be seriously considered as a way for NYC to save money while NYC has such a large amount debt. Mass transit is terrible, it shouldnt take someone the same amount of time to get around NYC on mass transit than it takes to drive to the outskirts Pennsylvania or Connecticut.
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Conversation with Steven
Municipal employees already showed during the height of the pandemic that we can work successfully from home. Mayor Adam's supported this concept when he was seeking our Union votes π³ during the Democratic primary.
When we work at home π‘ we support our local economies. We have to pivot as we are losing talent from all city agencies to the private sector. We can reduce our office footprint and repurpose those buildings to deal with the homeless crisis we have in NYC. We can consolidate field offices and make those offices we use in a neighborhood style office space where you come in only when we have to gather for certain office tasks. We need the outer borough Mayor to remember his promises to Union members and our families that he would support an alternative work schedule π . Promises Made in this area have NOT been kept!! We need a Mayor who is going to make the public sector competitive and flexible for those who choose to serve NYC.
Yes Steven, you basically highlighted all of the key reasons to support hybrid. The city of New York payroll will "never" keep up with private sector compensation or short term financial benefits, however there is an opportunity to compete with the private sector through good-great work/ life balance. For some becoming a city employee was a choice of safe retirement, purpose, greater good and intangible benefits. High financial rewards wasn't the main focus but if there is a way to greatly improve work/life balance then we should.
The best way the city leaders can accomplish this and attract more Gen x,y,z & millennium is to improve the work/life balance. Not to mention that living in the city is becoming too expensive for employees, so outer counties like Westchester, Ossining, Long island, Rockland are becoming the affordable option. Which means longer commute and less work/life balance. I don't need campaign promises anymore just results/impact...
Conversation with Tommy Frias
I would much rather get a telework hybrid option than get a raise. Work/life balance is more valuable than money.
I hope everyone is calling their union and letting them know that the telework option should be #1 priority on the bargaining table.
Absolutely Tommy Frias, It has to be an initiative from both ends the city and the union to insure accountability and support.
On January 12th, 2022, The NY State Assembly in Albany introduced bill (A.457) which is called the NYC Telework Expansion bill. This is a step in the right direction. Mayor Adams and City Council needs to get on board and support this teleworking idea. Ask and you may receive, so letβs keep putting the pressure on our unions and our elected representatives at the city and state levels.
Conversation with RITA BRADLEY
Working from home is fine as long as you are properly equipped and you actually do some work I know from experience 3 out of 6 of us civilians actually did some work the others got paid to do absolutely nothing. this is unfair and a waste of city money. I was given an apple I pad and it was horrible trying to do payroll on it for 200 uniform officers doing overtime everyday. I would rather work from the office but that's my situation. there is no structure in tele working for most city jobs. further more if you are not needed in the office then you're not needed at all, we will be giving up our jobs very soon. I would rather a raise than to work from home . Btw I do love my home but not all day.
I partially agree with your analysis. I believe the agencies have to take accountability with providing employees w/ the right equipment and resources to do their jobs effectively and accurately whether its at home or at work. I worked at DOC a hand full of years ago doing the same work and some issues will transfer no matter the situation.
However the overwhelming majority of city employees depending on their role/title were able to effectively work from home and do the "same thing they were doing in the office". If its a matter of poor management or leadership of staff that's a knock on the supervisors and managers. A hybrid model and a 4 day workweek would be the best combination for those who want to be in the office, but don't see value in 5 day commute. For hybrid, some roles/titles don't need face to face interaction everyday or a 4 day commute, so maybe 3 days in office is suffice. Where I currently work there was structure in telework but some agencies don't have guidance