Arrow-right Camera

Color Scheme

Subscribe now

This column reflects the opinion of the writer. Learn about the differences between a news story and an opinion column.

Make workers work

While I applaud Spokane County Chief Operating Officer John Dickson for his efforts to improve customer service, employee development and more, the real problems go much deeper than that. As recently as six months ago, I sent a letter to both Dickson and County Commissioner Shelly O’Quinn detailing two hot button issues rarely addressed.

Most employees have long since resigned themselves to covering for those employees who don’t do their share of work or, worse, abuse sick leave. As a former employee, I witnessed these issues dating back to the early 1970s. Despite my repeated pleas over the years, not much has changed.

If you want to address employee development, the primary issues are getting the employee to do that for which they are hired and having them at work in the first place. I know from high-level conversations in the past these issues are rarely addressed by many managers.

If Dickson really wants his “people to support a world they help create,” I would suggest he begin to eliminate those who create little or nothing. And then hire those who will come to work every day and help fulfill his goals, such as financial stewardship and customer service.

Terry Hontz

Spokane

Letters Policy

The Spokesman-Review invites original letters on local topics of public interest. Your letter must adhere to the following rules:

  • No more than 250 words
  • We reserve the right to reject letters that are not factually correct, racist or are written with malice.
  • We cannot accept more than one letter a month from the same writer.
  • With each letter, include your daytime phone number and street address.
  • The Spokesman-Review retains the nonexclusive right to archive and re-publish any material submitted for publication.

Unfortunately, we don’t have space to publish all letters received, nor are we able to acknowledge their receipt. (Learn more.)

Submit letters using any of the following:

Our online form
Submit your letter here
Mail
Letters to the Editor
The Spokesman-Review
999 W. Riverside Ave.
Spokane, WA 99201
Fax
(509) 459-3815

Read more about how we crafted our Letters to the Editor policy