Posted on Jul 25, 2015
A hostile work invironment? How is that possible? VA union submits report to McDonald alleging 'hostile work environment'
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After a several-month internal review, Preston sent McDonald a 39-page report on Thursday, detailing accounts from hundreds of VA workers who shared stories of dysfunction and insensitivity by their superiors.
If the report were a "perverse 'how-to' book," Preston wrote in an email to McDonald, it would be a "guide to terrible management for the purpose of systematically destroying the ability of the United States government to function effectively."
Preston declined to give a copy of the report to The Washington Post. He said he wanted to give McDonald time to read it and respond first.
http://www.stripes.com/news/veterans/va-union-submits-report-to-mcdonald-alleging-hostile-work-environment-1.359677
If the report were a "perverse 'how-to' book," Preston wrote in an email to McDonald, it would be a "guide to terrible management for the purpose of systematically destroying the ability of the United States government to function effectively."
Preston declined to give a copy of the report to The Washington Post. He said he wanted to give McDonald time to read it and respond first.
http://www.stripes.com/news/veterans/va-union-submits-report-to-mcdonald-alleging-hostile-work-environment-1.359677
Posted in these groups: 
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 7
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Look at the VA this way people.... I am a Retired NCO and current VA employee for the past (12) years. The VA is the same as the Military system MINUS NCOs ! That and there is very, very little Leadership Training for front-line Supervisors. You can not lead if you do not know HOW to lead. People are placed in Supervisory positions and expected to lead by their instincts. There is a massive divide between the SES level management and front-line workers. This is why you have very little accountability. Every single Veteran/VA employee I talk with ALL SAY THE SAME THING! The VA is fundamentally messed up. This is the message that you all need to get out there! Get Congress and the VA Top Management to institute more quality Leadership Training programs for their front-line Supervisors and make it MANDATORY ! GET THIS MESSAGE OUT THERE ! PLEASE !!
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So VA workers feel that "Morale is very low," one union source said. "It creates a very hostile work environment; people can't do their work.". THAT'S TOO BAD! Maybe VA employees should have PRIOR SERVICE as a caveat to VA employment. Then they would know what a "...hostile work environment..." was.
That said, as the 39 page document cites that a lot of Management should be fired, may facilitate less dysfunction and POOR working conditions instead of hostile...
That said, as the 39 page document cites that a lot of Management should be fired, may facilitate less dysfunction and POOR working conditions instead of hostile...
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CSM Jennifer Dehorty
I work the the VA, at the ABQ RO; 85% of our group are veterans. That is not the problem.
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TSgt Robert Schultz
The problem is like I said in my posting above. Very little to NO Leadership Training for frontline Supervisors.
ONE CAN NOT LEAD IF YOU DO NOT KNOW HOW TO LEAD ! You can NOT lead by instinct alone !
Poor Leadership leads to poor moral and apathy every single day of the week !
ONE CAN NOT LEAD IF YOU DO NOT KNOW HOW TO LEAD ! You can NOT lead by instinct alone !
Poor Leadership leads to poor moral and apathy every single day of the week !
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CSM Jennifer Dehorty
If I was in charge...the first couple of things to change; the union and OPM. That is probably the most negative impact on the overall process. Second, the current matrix of goals are structured incorrectly. I am unsure that the data management (loosely used) is even close to where the end result needs to be.
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SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. Jan this doesn't surprise me one bit. Now we get to wait and see how long it will take them to do something about it.
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TSgt Robert Schultz
VA needs to instill mandatory Leadership Training courses for frontline Supervisors !
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Hostile? Wait until Congress passes this new accountability law. I'm concerned that it will not fix the problem, just sweep them under the carpet. Giving VA leadership the authority to fire at will may cause many who would have spoken up about failures to keep quiet. VA Leadership is adept at removing people upon trumped up charges. VA leadership controls the HR department and that staff does their bidding. As a Service Chief, there were many, many times I sent over disciplinary proposals to HR, only to have them sit on them so long as to create what they refer to as "stale" charges. However, let one of the senior leaders tell HR that they want someone removed, and the proposals are prepared and issued almost immediately and frequently.
I don't particularly like TSgt Robert Schultz's assessment, but agree with him. VA just like maybe most other government agencies are throwing these new employees to the wolves and not providing them the tools needed to fend themselves.
I don't particularly like TSgt Robert Schultz's assessment, but agree with him. VA just like maybe most other government agencies are throwing these new employees to the wolves and not providing them the tools needed to fend themselves.
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I don't see how the morale at the VA could be low when they have enjoyed bonuses from false wait lists and no one is going to jail. I really don't like the VA right now. They don't have accountability with much.
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TSgt Robert Schultz
You know better than that.
I am a front-line VA employee and have not had any sort of bonus what-so-ever.
Moral hear is in the dirt simply because there is NO Leadership within these (4) walls at all. NONE, ZILCH, NATA !
No Leadership will give workers poor moral everyday of the week.
I am a front-line VA employee and have not had any sort of bonus what-so-ever.
Moral hear is in the dirt simply because there is NO Leadership within these (4) walls at all. NONE, ZILCH, NATA !
No Leadership will give workers poor moral everyday of the week.
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Well looks like status quo at the VA. Why is it so friggen hard to fix the VA? Ridiculous!
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TSgt Robert Schultz
Easy.
NO LEADERSHIP WHAT-SO-EVER ! NONE !
BTW, I am a current VA employee as well as a Retired NCO.
NO LEADERSHIP WHAT-SO-EVER ! NONE !
BTW, I am a current VA employee as well as a Retired NCO.
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SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. Signs of a significantly entrenched bureaucracy resistant to change... They will now use the government union personal protections to cover their A$$ than help veterans!
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TSgt Robert Schultz
You're obviously talking about Congress right Sir ??
VA has no Leadership Training to speak of.
One can not lead if one does NOT know HOW to lead. Change takes Leadership. Leadership does NOT exist within the VA.
I am a VA employee for the past (12) years as well as a Retired NCO.
Read my Comment at the top of this blog.
VA has no Leadership Training to speak of.
One can not lead if one does NOT know HOW to lead. Change takes Leadership. Leadership does NOT exist within the VA.
I am a VA employee for the past (12) years as well as a Retired NCO.
Read my Comment at the top of this blog.
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LTC John Shaw
TSgt Robert Schultz
Robert, I agree Congress has no idea how to lead, but Congress is not the Administrative layer over the VA bureaucracy, it is the funding source.
This disconnect is on VA leadership and the SES level failing to establish professional development programs and real accountability.
I have much respect for most individual VA employees, most I have dealt with seem very interested in doing the right job, the right way. I have met a much smaller number of VA employees who seem to be 'hiding out', targeting work avoidance verses helping Veterans.
I appreciate that you have a very difficult job and have hope everyday that this organization can made better.
Robert, I agree Congress has no idea how to lead, but Congress is not the Administrative layer over the VA bureaucracy, it is the funding source.
This disconnect is on VA leadership and the SES level failing to establish professional development programs and real accountability.
I have much respect for most individual VA employees, most I have dealt with seem very interested in doing the right job, the right way. I have met a much smaller number of VA employees who seem to be 'hiding out', targeting work avoidance verses helping Veterans.
I appreciate that you have a very difficult job and have hope everyday that this organization can made better.
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