The destruction of morale

February 5, 2002

I have worked with the Assessment Office since June 1970, except for a short disruption leaving the office for 8 months and being re-hired in 1976. In the past 32 years I have never seen such low morale, utter chaos and with no clear picture being presented as to where we are headed.

I used to enjoy coming to work before. This was a "FUN" place to work!!! I was here during our famous "Rae Days" and during the strike of 1996 – even with all that our morale was a lot better than it is today. Why is a company that is looking to downsize, obviously, not offering any incentive packages to long term eligible employees to retire and open up positions for younger employees? Because once all the dust is settled and some of the up and coming employees are no longer here they are lost forever.

Just knowing the numbers of employees by position that will be in each regional office would be helpful to relieve some of the stress. As employees we do not feel that the people at the top have any idea what will be left for us at the bottom. I know of no other reorganization that numbers are not known before restructuring takes place. Why haven’t we been told? What is being hidden from us? Does the MPAC Board of Directors have any answers for us?

Yours truly,

Pat Davey, Sault Ste. Marie

February 4, 2002

I am writing to let you know that I am very dissatisfied with the restructuring process at MPAC. I am left wondering if I will have a job, and if I do, where it will be located. With rumors flying of office closures, my children are worried about leaving the life and friends they love. This puts much stress on the family, especially, when it involves senior parents, who require care and need someone around. It gets more and more difficult to come to work every day.

After 19+ years of dedicated service I feel I am now a number and no one cares. I feel that I, as well as other staff members, deserve better.

Please stop the nonsense and allow us to return to our regular jobs. I once again would like to look forward to getting up in the morning and coming to work. This can not happen if this restructuring takes place! Please listen to the employees – they are the future of MPAC.

Kathy McDonald, Mindemoya

February 1, 2002

To the MPAC Board,

I am an employee with over 25 years of service and this is the lowest the morale and production have been since I started working as an employee of the Ministry of Revenue, later Ministry of Finance, now MPAC. I have been through a number of changes and even though the human nature resists change, the employer of the day tried to keep in mind the fact that he was dealing with people who were an important commodity and not disposable.

This employer, MPAC, does not look at the value and experience of its employees as a valuable asset and this comes over loud and clear in the manner that they have proceeded with their restructuring. This could have been done in a more humane manner if they cared about customer service as they implied rather than just the bottom line. All employees going through this experience, even if in the end they have secured a position, will take a very long time to have any trust or feel that the employer is one with integrity or trustworthy.

These wounds that have been inflicted by the Employer will not just go away. The healing process is going to be long and will eventually affect all of the work that we do. To add insult to injury, the majority of the workers took great pride in doing their jobs and defending the values, because they felt that they provided a service that was necessary to the public.

Jennifer Reid, Komoka

February 1, 2002

To The MPAC Board:

I am writing this letter to express my dissatisfaction with the entire MPAC organizational restructuring. I am sure as members of the MPAC Board, you have no idea what this process has done to your employees.

In a time when we should be busily working towards a reassessment, there is no, and I mean NO productivity. People are consumed by trying to figure out where they will fit in or even if they will have a job in the "new order." Morale is non-existent.

There is no need to absolutely dismantle this organization to re-build a better model. This has been a big mistake, one we will all pay for.

Jennifer Mills, St. Thomas

February 16, 2002

Dear Sir:

Unfortunately, I find myself in an untenable situation due to the manner in which MPAC has treated me as a person and as an employee. This employer has chosen a path which has caused tremendous conflict and fear among its employees and made us feel worthless. It is without doubt, the only employer that I have worked for, that has gone so far out of their way to demoralize their employees with no regard for us as individuals.

I am 40 years old this year with a good education and a varied work history. I am not a sycophantic personality type and therefore am not able to advance in this environment. I am attaching a copy of my resume so that you can consider for yourself whether I am unqualified complainer or a person who can make a career where I am appreciated.

I appreciate your taking the time to read this email and I wish you all the luck in the future.

I am,

Michael F. McDougall, A.I.M.A., Barrie

January 30, 2002

I love my job as a Property Assessor and I take pride in my job. I have worked hard to achieve my goals and to get where I am today. The recent Futures Implementation has put my life on hold. How does Mr. Richards and the Board expect MPAC employees to wake up and take pride in their work when they are unsure of their future as a Property Assessor? I am getting married soon, and have never felt more stress in my life – not with the wedding, but wondering after I get married am I going to have a job? Be able to support my family? We don’t have any kids and I am stressed and very concerned. I wonder what people with families of one, two, three or more kids are feeling?

Their new technique of hiring ignores knowledge, experience, education and seniority; which should be the most important factors when attempting to re-format this corporation. The Board and Management hide behind e-mails; when they are asked questions as to the numbers of staff and jobs-nobody seems to know any answers! I would just like MPAC and the board to stop hiding – tell us the truth and say it to our face!

Mike Fletcher, Windsor

March 28, 2002

I have been working here for over 20 years, as Secretary to the Assessment Commissioner. In my 20 years here, I have never seen the morale of almost all the staff so LOW and the atmosphere in the office so pathetic. Most of us here are very dedicated, hard-working individuals who take great pride in doing the best job possible but that is being seen less and less with each passing day. Going to work is no longer "fun" but very stressful. I am really surprised that more staff are not on stress/sick leave by now.

Also, the manner in which contract staff have been handled is atrocious. Many of these staff were with us for almost four years and have been amongst our most hard-working, dedicated individuals. They were always led on with the possibility of full-time permanent employment, putting up with no vacation, no benefits, etc., and then just thrown away. It is not a humane way to treat anyone.

You should be aware of the state MPAC is in. The FUTURES program is not working, and will not!

Thank you for your time,

Mary Anne Henderson, Chatham

March 28, 2002

Mr. Hume,

I am a property assessor employed by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation. I have been employed in this office for over 17 years. Last May, MPAC told all employees that they would be dramatically downsizing the number of employees and that we must reapply for the jobs that we are already doing. This felt like we were basically being fired.

Regarding downsizing, we are already short staffed which is evident in the fact that we are already farming some of our jobs out to other companies because we don’t have the manpower to complete the job.

With many of the positions having been filled now, we find that some of the upper positions are being filled not by experienced professional staff but by people with as little as four years’ experience. This is very hard to fathom.

The stress this has caused myself and my co-workers across the province is unimaginable. The morale is so low... I can’t even put it into words. The havoc created by this must in turn be affecting the quality and quantity of work being completed.

I hope that the Board of Directors will look at the Futures implementation more closely and possibly slow down so they can understand the full effects of this program.

Lorraine Waddell, Cambridge

February 1, 2001

To the MPAC Board of Directors:

I am writing this letter as an expression of deep concern I have for my own job but also the concern I have for the working environment. I have been employed in the Assessment Office for the last 20 years, and have witnessed a lot of changes. This past year has been the most disruptive and demoralizing year yet. What kind of quality product and efficient customer service can MPAC give when employees and management have this type of environment to work in?

I am appealing to you as the Board to take a look at what your Senior Management is doing. I would like to continue the rest of my working career here with this office and would like the office to start performing like it should.

Sincerely,

Linda Robertson, Ottawa

Date, 2002

To the MPAC Board:

I have been an employee with MPAC/OPAC for about two years. My experience previously was with the real estate sector in the fields of real estate sales and real estate appraisal in the private sector. Given this background, I am well aware of the necessity of customer service, efficiency and cost cutting in this world of "do more with less." Every organization has the right and in some cases duty to change, to fully utilize technology, to fully engage staff and to move forward as a cohesive and viable business.

It was encouraging therefore that in February 2000 a series of sessions were scheduled to deal with OPAC 2000 Employee and Customer Satisfaction Surveys. In essence these sessions were asking employees to address issues, assist in developing action plans, and with corporate activities to reinforce local suggestions, make OPAC a better organization.

Nothing whatever came of these sessions except perhaps increased employee disenchantment, distrust and disillusionment. What did come shortly thereafter was FUTURES.

The "rollout" of the ill planned, poorly communicated and who are we/where are we going mess that is FUTURES should be of great concern to you. We employees, who are truly MPAC's greatest asset, are disillusioned and demoralized. We too are clients of the organization yet our work, credibility, and professionalism are considered redundant. Given this poisonous atmosphere there is little prospect for meeting objectives or improved customer service.

Please reconsider.

Sincerely,

Margot J. Mann, Ottawa

 

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