Brad Blaisdell
Leading positive change
Vice President – Workplace Solutions and Compliance – Respect Group

 

At Respect Group we’ve had the opportunity to work with more than 40 municipalities across Canada, working with their leadership to build Respect in the Workplace. In the same breath, we’ve connected with hundreds of municipality leaders and uncovered some common culture-building challenges many of them are facing. Here’s a look at some of those unique challenges.

Municipalities are the bedrock upon which our communities are built. They are responsible for delivering essential services, fostering economic growth, and ensuring the well-being of their residents. However, behind the scenes, many municipalities grapple with a challenge that transcends budget constraints and administrative hurdles: company culture. It might seem surprising that organizations dedicated to public service struggle with something as intangible as culture, but the reality is that municipal entities, just like businesses, face unique cultural dynamics that can impact their effectiveness and the well-being of their employees. And in my experience, the issues experienced in municipalities are plentiful and unique. Here is a breakdown of some of the problems municipalities face in their quest for a positive company culture.

A maze of bureaucracy

Municipalities often operate within bureaucratic structures that prioritize rules and regulations. This can lead to challenges such as slower decision-making and resistance to change. Because of this, progress can not only be slowed down, but it can paralyze change, leading to stagnant and less progressive work environments that fail to keep up with modern workplace practices.

Political turnover

Frequent changes in leadership due to elections can disrupt efforts to establish a consistent cultural vision. Each new administration may bring different priorities, making cultural continuity difficult to achieve.

Resource challenges

With funds primarily allocated to essential infrastructure, public safety and healthcare, limited resources are leftover for employee training initiatives. As a result, training programs are often underfunded or deprioritized.

In addition, municipalities tend to be leanly staffed in the first place, leading to overworked employees and little time to spare for culture-building efforts. This vicious cycle tends to lead to burnout and high rates of turnover.

Regulation overload

Municipalities are subject to many regulations, including labour laws and civil service rules. These regulations often influence work culture by shaping hiring practices, employee behaviour, and resource allocation. Compliance with these regulations can sometimes lead to rigid structures and limited flexibility, impacting innovation and adaptability within municipal organizations, which, in turn, can negatively impact the overall work culture.

Public scrutiny

Municipalities face intense public scrutiny due to their pivotal role in communities. This scrutiny from constituents, media, and regulatory bodies creates a pressure cooker environment for employees. This constant spotlight can lead to heightened stress, job dissatisfaction, and anxiety, affecting overall work culture and employee well-being as they navigate the challenges of serving the public under intense scrutiny.

Training to help address these challenges

Building a work culture of respect, particularly in light of the challenges laid out above, cannot easily happen organically. Its transparent municipalities are struggling with issues, and breaking this cycle requires a commitment to culture, leadership development, and active employee engagement. This commitment, I believe, starts with equipping leaders with training that offers a sustainable way to educate, build awareness and upskill their leadership teams to prioritize employee wellbeing and break the cycle of culture being pushed to the side. 

By tackling these core issues, municipalities can build a more positive and effective workplace culture that benefits both their employees and the communities they serve.

Join our Municipality Panel on September 20th

Want to learn more about the unique challenges being faced by municipalities in Canada? We’ve got an expert panel on this exact topic on Wednesday, September 20th featuring Marjorie Munroe, C.Med. of the City of Calgary and Michelle Phaneuf, Conflict Manager of Workplace Fairness that you don’t want to miss.

Register here to reserve your spot!