Posted on Jul 25, 2015
SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S.
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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
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Responses: 7
TSgt Robert Schultz
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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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TSgt David L.
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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...
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CSM Jennifer Dehorty
CSM Jennifer Dehorty
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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
TSgt Robert Schultz
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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 !
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CSM Jennifer Dehorty
CSM Jennifer Dehorty
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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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SGM Steve Wettstein
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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 David L.
TSgt David L.
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Exactly!
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TSgt Robert Schultz
TSgt Robert Schultz
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VA needs to instill mandatory Leadership Training courses for frontline Supervisors !
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