Wow. I've worked for employers that did nothing but outline your expectations and sign your check, and once you failed those expectations they stopped signing it.
You know, a rootbeer float ain't going to make my car payment. Won't cover my electric bill. Won't even feed my critters for a few days.
But what it did do, was remind me that the people above me are still that: people. I've been in for a while, I've seen great things happen and terrible tragedies happen. I've seen good people leave and I've seen bad people promote. But what I rarely see, what I don't hear enough of, is my brothers and sisters taking the minute to reflect on the reality of the situation. We are not owed "appreciation". We are not required to be treated nicely. We don't even have the right to a tram bus ride or a free lunch, truth be told. We have those things (quality notwithstanding) because of who we are to the department. This place can't run without us, its true...but you know, my house ain't going to pay itself. I need the department just as much as it needs me.
The issues addressed by Morey Control--performance pay, trams, equipment, supplies, staff, positions, supervision--are OURS to change. Want better pay? Get off your ass and VOTE for the increased taxes to fund our payroll, donate to the candidate of your choice, volunteer time for their campaign. Trams? WATCH how they are managed and WRITE IT next time you see damage or abuse. Equipment? WATCH YOUR PARTNER as he stabs the microphone with pencil lead or colors the control panel with sharpie pen or leans too far back in the chair and breaks the back support or drops the radio and turns it in, giggling like a girl. Supplies? Clean your room and watch the supplies come rolling in. I hate relieving a slob but its better to clean it to my standards once he's gone, than to bitch and get nowhere (or go nowhere). Staff? Pull your buddy aside and tell him clear and simple that his call-ins are not acceptable, and put him on shine status. Positions? Go out and recruit to fill the vacancies. Supervision? Change it: promote and make the department a better place to YOUR standards, otherwise shut the fu*k up and listen for the simulations in briefing. My sergeant is not the brightest bulb in the lampshop but you can tell he cares about his crew. I respect that and I honor that by working hard for him, whether he sees it or not. You know what ethics are? Its doing the right thing when nobody is watching. We have a deficiency of ethics in the department, too many Janet Jackson "what have you done for me lately?" bull$hit. When was the last time anyone reading this post saw something wrong, and did the right thing to correct it? How about the time your partner pencil-whipped an observation log--did you report that? What about when you saw someone working int he kitchen without foodservice gloves--did you challenge it? How about 704 and inmate grooming--certainly putting an inmate in line is what we're all about right? Right?
I earn my check. Made the rootbeer float that much sweeter.
Even if it was in a tiny cup.