From Harford County government:
Tamara J. Haney, a Dispatcher III with the Division of Emergency Operations and 10-year employee with Harford County, has been named “Employee of the Month” for September. Ms. Haney was nominated by Timothy Coale, a Public Safety Supervisor at the EOC.
Coale nominated Ms. Haney, not for a singular event, but for multiple examples that demonstrate she routinely goes “above and beyond” her required duties and responsibilities in order to provide better service to both law enforcement officers and the general public.
In his nomination of Ms. Haney, Mr. Coale stated, “While acting as a police dispatch supervisor she encourages others to provide a higher level of performance than dictated in policies and procedures. She has successfully trained many dispatchers, teaching them multiple ways of doing things and holding them to a higher standard of service”.
Additionally, Mr. Coale stated, “Tamara has been a tremendous help in maintaining shift minimum staffing requirements. She modifies her schedule to fill shortages at the EOC, both with flex time and overtime. Furthermore Tamara is the first to volunteer for any committee that may be needed by the agency. Although it would not be fair to put her on all committees, Tamara’s enthusiasm is duly noted.”
Commenting on receiving the award, Ms. Haney stated, “I am honored to have been selected for this award. I love my job as a Public Safety Dispatcher and I am proud to be part of such an amazing team of public service employees”.
“Tamara clearly demonstrates the positive attributes of our county employees. She consistently has performed above and beyond the call of duty and we are proud of her dedication and selfless service on behalf of the citizens of Harford County,” County Executive Craig said.
Why do we have this ridiculous monthly award being published for public employees? There are far more private sector workers who routinely accomplish much more who don’t get this gold star and their name in the paper. Great; somebody doing thier job is wonderful and as a taxpayer it’s appreciated, but seriously it’s almost as bad as the self-indulgent emmy’s or oscars. Doing your job isn’t all that special.
Seriously? Dial it back a little Money Tree. Though I may not always agree, I can understand people arguiing over government employee pay and productivity, but are you seriously getting upset over just simple recognition of someone doing a good job?
Recognition of and appreciation are core components of a merit based society structure. I’m dismayed you’d discourage it.
We’re talking about staff who have had pay stagnate, or be cut, and have almost every other benefit cost increase for several years and a little bit of recognition is the least we can do for someone who is doing a good job.
Fully understand what you’re saying – that’s why I included a note of appreciation. Of course I appreciate the efforts of honest, hardworking public employees. It’s the coddling idea…sure seems to me I don’t remember seeing any private sector names associated with an “attyboy” message. You think private sector workers haven’t had their wages frozen that last couple years and not just frozen – several local businesses have gone belly up so it isn’t like this economy hasn’t spread the pain around. Govt to media and media to government; they live for each other; it’s insidious in Washington and just as much here – just on a much smaller scale. Is it special and worth printing just because it involved the public sector? I say no and a fair media wouldn’t help cheerlead for certain groups.
The Dagger is not writing these, they are press releases. I’m sure if Walmart or Best Buy or Upper Chesapeake sent in a press release on their Employees of the Month they would post them too. I think you’re wound a little tight there Money Tree. Relax.
Government typically uses media to promote whatever they want and the media laps it up. You don’t find that in the private sector – not that “call the paper to show the public what we’re doing” reaction. It’s quite a different mindset really. Of course I see employee of the month with a photo next to the door at many businesses, Lowes, Home Depot, the grocers but it sure never makes the physical or electronic paper. Maybe the media ought to make an effort to find private sector workers to applaud at the same time instead of taking every government press release and running with it.
The media did not “make an effort” to get this story. It was sent to them in a press release. The reason you don’t see Lowes or Home Depot’s Employees of the Month here is because they didn’t do a press release. But if they did they would probably be posted.
I for one like that county government lets the public know what’s going on in government. Sure, it’s only the good news, but I as a taxpayer appreciate being informed about what’s going on.
If this press release offends you you don’t need to read it.
Money Tree: “You don’t find that in the private sector – not that “call the paper to show the public what we’re doing” reaction.”
You’ve got to be kidding. That’s the DEFINITION of public relations. Just about every medium to large company in the world does this exact same thing. That’s why they have communications interns who write those self-congratulating press releases full of misinformation about who wonderful the company is.
And you know what they do in PR office? They email and fax them to all the journalists they know in the hopes that one of them will have a slow news week and pick up the story.
Geez, who pee’d in your Wheaties this morning? A lot of private sector employers have an Employee of the Month. It’s a cheap and easy way to give somebody a pat on the back for a good job and helps employee morale.
I’m a small business owner, and although I don’t have an employee of the month award, I make it a point to let someone know when they are doing a good job (and also when they are not). That’s part of being an effective manager.
Obviously the county as an employer values their employees enought to recognize excellence. If private companies choose not to do so, perhaps they should take a lesson in employee motivation.
Congrats to Tamara! She’s one of the best dispatchers we have and one of the few who I would trust to have on the air during some sort of catastrophic chaotic event like that Colorado theater shooting.
The Money Tree: I don’t think you have to worry about anyone nominating you. LOL
Serious vitriol over a simple objection to treating this as if it deserves a regular media column. My question is basically whether or not this ought to be treated as news. Lots of companies reward thier employees it’s just not typical that it’s published. It’s a continuation of the coddling of public employees as if to suggest what they do has more value – it doesn’t. A job well done is appreciated by all but unless you work for government you won’t get on the front page.
Of course it’s newsworthy. When workers in the public sector make mistakes or do negative things, people are clamoring for the info in the press and the comments on the Dagger are plentiful. Just as the public makes a big deal about “these government workers are accountable to me because I pay their salary”, an equally big deal should be made about celebrating exceptional work that leads to such an award. I applaud the county government for releasing these monthly award winners, these folks deserve to have their accomplishments noted.
And if you haven’t noticed, check out the Sun’s business section, it always has articles discussing the accomplishments and promotions of workers in the private sector.
Sun paper pages are not exclusive to private sector.
Also, every “private sector” employee i know…be it friend or just aquaintance…gets monetarial bonuses for continuosly doing a good job! i heard people get gift cards all the way up to thousand dollar bonuses working in the sales and engineering fields. public employees dont get these…and if they do…it gets taken back from them due to “public” perception and economics?? either way, there will be those citizens that will bitch about it either way, even if its just a public employee getting their name on a plaque!! i say “thanks Tamara” and keep up the good work!!
Excellent point. Since the taxpayers are clamoring that public employees are accountable to them, I would think that the taxpayers would want to be aware of the good things being doen by those employees.
A great program. We should all be so honored with this type of recognition.
@money tree- you just like to piss on everyone’s parade. You are bitching about a 911 employee whom takes other people’s shifts and helps everyone to make sure that the county provides outstanding emergency services? You know just because govt does it, doesn’t mean that its bad. Private real estate firms show of their sales, listings and total volume leaders monthly, so do lenders and most employers have some type of honor, reward, recognition for a job well done. You sir are a complete tool if you don’t see any value in it or if you feel like the only thing that newspapers should report is bad news from the govt.
Anybody else glad they don’t have to live with “The Money Tree?” 😉