If one ever wonders why public sector workers get a bad reputation, one only needs to check a story circulating this week. Beyond being a water-cooler hot topic, the story shows just how far out of touch politicians can get.
A B.C. government employee reward program called "Online Recognition Cupboard" allows civil servants to send each other gifts, which are paid by the Ministry of Finance to the tune of about $1.5 million each year.
Apparently workers can choose from items such as gift cards, chocolates and coffee mugs, and they don't need approval from their manager before clicking on their online choice and having it sent to a co-worker - or even a boss. Did Sylvia in the next cubicle spot you a fiver last week when you were short of cash? Well, here's a way to thank her.
What is also surprising is that nobody seemed to notice the irony of a taxpayer program with a title of "cupboard" given that the government is always telling everyone the cupboard is bare.
When the program came to light, you might have thought that Kevin Falcon, the finance minister, would have said, "what, that program, I thought we killed that last year" - but no, he actually defended it.
Apparently he told the media that perspective is key.
Well, he's not wrong about that. His perspective is key to why the government and civil servants are considered out of touch with reality.
And, while the NDP quickly derided the program, let's not forget they were the ones who introduced it in 1999.
Now, to be fair, some of this taxpayer money goes to retirement dinners. And we're not Scrooge enough to think that someone retiring after 40 years of service shouldn't get a nice dinner out - but surely that doesn't cost $1.5 million per year.
As for whether this gift program keeps worker morale up - well, there's nothing wrong with a sincere, honest email thanking someone for a job well done - and it's a heck of a lot cheaper.
