Harvey Specter
05-12-2010, 04:31 AM
Seems to me the entire RCMP force needs a revamp...
Nearly 60 per cent of RCMP employees in B.C. have considered quitting their job over the past six months, according to an internal staff survey obtained by The Vancouver Sun.
The survey also found one in four B.C. RCMP employees had been "verbally harassed or tormented" within the past year, with the most common source of harassment being their direct supervisor.
In 2009, the RCMP conducted a national survey — of both sworn officers and civilian staff — to gauge morale, a process it undertakes every two years.
A summary of the survey's B.C. results, prepared for deputy commissioner Gary Bass, was obtained by The Sun through the Access to Information Act.
The report indicates 57 per cent of B.C. staff surveyed said they've thought about quitting in the previous six months, about the same as RCMP staff nationally. The figure was the same for both sworn officers and civilian staff.
Among the B.C. employees who considered quitting, the most common reason given was frustration with the work environment, a lack of recognition for their work and unrealistic work expectations.
RCMP spokesman Sgt. Tim Shields said the figure isn't cause for concern.
"It's only human nature — people are going to think about other options," he said, adding actual turnover is low.
The survey also found that while 61 per cent said they'd recommend a career with the Mounties to others, 24 per cent would have doubts about making such a recommendation and seven per cent said they'd advise against it.
Perhaps most troubling for the force, the survey suggests morale is getting worse.
Those surveyed were asked whether they agreed or disagreed with 55 separate statements about working at the RCMP, from whether they were proud to work for the force to whether they'd been properly trained.
The survey found responses to 39 of those statements — 70 per cent — had worsened in just the past two years.
The biggest drop — down 14 points, to 53 per cent — was whether staff believed they received the intelligence they needed to do their job. There were also big drops in whether staff felt respected and trusted (down 12 points to 44 per cent) and if they believed they were treated fairly (down 11 points to 41 per cent).
Harassment is also a major problem within the RCMP in B.C., with one-quarter of those surveyed saying they'd been harassed or tormented within the past year. A fifth of those said the source of their harassment was "clients" such as members of the public or criminals. But six in 10 said the chief source of their torment was their direct supervisors, other superiors or co-workers.
Shields acknowledged staff morale has taken a hit recently, partly due to fallout from the 2007 death of Polish immigrant Robert Dziekanski after being Tasered by RCMP members.
"To see the organization that we have all dedicated our lives to under a level of public scrutiny and criticism which has been unprecedented has taken its toll," he said.
Shields said the RCMP is working hard to improve, including establishing a "continuous improvement team" within the force dedicated to respond to staff concerns.
"There's definitely a recognition from the most senior levels that there are changes that are needed," he said.
The RCMP also implemented a "Respectful Workplace" training program last year, which it says is far more extensive than its previous anti-harassment program and must be completed by all employees and managers.
Some of the survey's other findings include:
•- The force's senior brass are much happier than the rank-and-file. Those with a rank of chief superintendent or higher gave positive answers to 85 per cent of the questions, compared with just 55 per cent for corporals and constables.
•- Only a third of those surveyed thought employee complaints were dealt with effectively.
•- Only a third of those surveyed thought situations of poor performance were dealt with effectively.
Interestingly, the worst score of all 55 questions — with just 17 per cent agreement — was whether staff felt the survey they'd just completed would make any difference.
About 2,500 RCMP employees in B.C. completed the survey, which was conducted last summer.
cskelton@vancouversun.com
Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/RCMP+staff+have+thought+about+quitting/3016594/story.html#ixzz0niZASAjM
Nearly 60 per cent of RCMP employees in B.C. have considered quitting their job over the past six months, according to an internal staff survey obtained by The Vancouver Sun.
The survey also found one in four B.C. RCMP employees had been "verbally harassed or tormented" within the past year, with the most common source of harassment being their direct supervisor.
In 2009, the RCMP conducted a national survey — of both sworn officers and civilian staff — to gauge morale, a process it undertakes every two years.
A summary of the survey's B.C. results, prepared for deputy commissioner Gary Bass, was obtained by The Sun through the Access to Information Act.
The report indicates 57 per cent of B.C. staff surveyed said they've thought about quitting in the previous six months, about the same as RCMP staff nationally. The figure was the same for both sworn officers and civilian staff.
Among the B.C. employees who considered quitting, the most common reason given was frustration with the work environment, a lack of recognition for their work and unrealistic work expectations.
RCMP spokesman Sgt. Tim Shields said the figure isn't cause for concern.
"It's only human nature — people are going to think about other options," he said, adding actual turnover is low.
The survey also found that while 61 per cent said they'd recommend a career with the Mounties to others, 24 per cent would have doubts about making such a recommendation and seven per cent said they'd advise against it.
Perhaps most troubling for the force, the survey suggests morale is getting worse.
Those surveyed were asked whether they agreed or disagreed with 55 separate statements about working at the RCMP, from whether they were proud to work for the force to whether they'd been properly trained.
The survey found responses to 39 of those statements — 70 per cent — had worsened in just the past two years.
The biggest drop — down 14 points, to 53 per cent — was whether staff believed they received the intelligence they needed to do their job. There were also big drops in whether staff felt respected and trusted (down 12 points to 44 per cent) and if they believed they were treated fairly (down 11 points to 41 per cent).
Harassment is also a major problem within the RCMP in B.C., with one-quarter of those surveyed saying they'd been harassed or tormented within the past year. A fifth of those said the source of their harassment was "clients" such as members of the public or criminals. But six in 10 said the chief source of their torment was their direct supervisors, other superiors or co-workers.
Shields acknowledged staff morale has taken a hit recently, partly due to fallout from the 2007 death of Polish immigrant Robert Dziekanski after being Tasered by RCMP members.
"To see the organization that we have all dedicated our lives to under a level of public scrutiny and criticism which has been unprecedented has taken its toll," he said.
Shields said the RCMP is working hard to improve, including establishing a "continuous improvement team" within the force dedicated to respond to staff concerns.
"There's definitely a recognition from the most senior levels that there are changes that are needed," he said.
The RCMP also implemented a "Respectful Workplace" training program last year, which it says is far more extensive than its previous anti-harassment program and must be completed by all employees and managers.
Some of the survey's other findings include:
•- The force's senior brass are much happier than the rank-and-file. Those with a rank of chief superintendent or higher gave positive answers to 85 per cent of the questions, compared with just 55 per cent for corporals and constables.
•- Only a third of those surveyed thought employee complaints were dealt with effectively.
•- Only a third of those surveyed thought situations of poor performance were dealt with effectively.
Interestingly, the worst score of all 55 questions — with just 17 per cent agreement — was whether staff felt the survey they'd just completed would make any difference.
About 2,500 RCMP employees in B.C. completed the survey, which was conducted last summer.
cskelton@vancouversun.com
Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/RCMP+staff+have+thought+about+quitting/3016594/story.html#ixzz0niZASAjM