We asked, you spoke, we listened

The topics included:

• Communication                    
  
• Being Valued as an Employee 
  
• Professional Growth/Development           
  
• Supervisor Training
  
• Recognition

We are excited to share some of the focus group results with you:

In the focus groups, employees shared the many great things they like about working here at Glendale such as how our supervisors value their teams and how well our teams work together.  They also talked about the value and importance of the work we do in serving our citizens and improving their lives every day.

Employees also talked about challenges such as having limited resources and feeling burned out; continuing to improve communication; being more clear about job expectations and having more opportunities for training. Through this process we gained valuable insight into how we can recognize and reward employees. Employees described feeling valued as relating to who you are as an individual and recognition as seeing the great work you do.

Based on your feedback, we continue to implement new programs.   Below are some of the things that Glendale has done to improve in the focus group areas.

Communication:

• Employee News: The City conducted a study and survey to evaluate our employee news and has revamped the employee news email and video based on the results.

Being Valued:

• Employee Compensation Study: The City undertakes a market study every two years to ensure our positions and salary ranges remain competitive. Based on this year’s classification and compensation study results, we will be talking to the Council about the employee compensation study as well as some of the critical resources needed for our employees to provide the excellent services our citizens have come to expect.

Professional Growth and Development:

• Tuition Reimbursement: Last July, the City reinstated Education Assistance that includes tuition reimbursement, education conversion and degree stipend programs, to assist employees in pursuing their higher education goals

Recognition:

• Incentive Program: Last September, the City instituted an annual incentive program. The Success Factors Excellence Awards program opened for nominations for the first time last September, with winners being recognized last month for exceptional work in the areas of Service and Innovation. This annual program is scheduled for open nomination and review process every fall.  

• Excellence Award Program: The City re-introduced the Excellence Award Recognition Program to help recognize and reward employees for exhibiting excellence in the City’s Success Factors in their day-to-day work.  All employees and departments are encouraged to recommend other employees or teams for this recognition and gift card program.

Below is the full Executive Summary with additional focus group information. And be on the look-out for other initiatives which will be coming forward as we continue to develop more ways to make Glendale one of the best places to work!

Also, a special thank you to everyone who participated in our Employee Engagement Focus Groups!  We truly appreciate your thoughtful insights.