Ken Herar

By Ken Herar, The Times May 21, 2010

Let's just say it doesn't surprise me to hear that 60 percent of RCMP employees in B.C. have considered quitting their job over the past six months, according to an internal staff survey obtained by the Vancouver Sun.

The survey found one in four B.C. RCMP employees had been "verbally harassed or tormented" within the past year, with the most common source being harassment with their immediate supervisor.

The RCMP shouldn't feel so bad, because they are not the only organization facing an upward battle when it comes to disgruntled employees.

The workplace environment is changing quickly in almost every sector, especially retail, and employees are excepted to do more with less support.

Corporations and employers are cutting beyond their staffing levels, leaving job satisfaction at the bottom of their list. It also baffles me to find people who are placed in roles of middle management. In my experiences these folks shouldn't even be in charge of themselves, no matter who their fellow employees are.

It leaves me to wonder if the dollar so important as to have a workplace that is disgruntled or to create an environment that occupies a vision of job satisfaction. It's not a difficult question.

There definitely needs to be more accountability with management and employees to correct an already failing system.

Talk about changing careers - that's exactly what I did on May 5. I was one of the 18 volunteers at the Mission McDonald's, who flipped burgers or worked the drive-thru on McHappy Day.

With the sun beaming down it was a fabulous McHappy Day.

I had great time working the drive-through with cheerful employees handing out bags of Mickey D's without dropping a single serving. Of course, every customer had to be greeted with a smile, just like the TV commercials.

Every dollar from a Happy Meal, Big Mac and Egg McMuffin went to the Ronald McDonald House and Surrey Memorial Hospital.

According to Mission restaurant manager Kristin Stram, they raised $2,057 at this location and $7.1 million across the nation. As I was venturing out the door after a hard day at the grill, they told me to get my resume prepared ASAP.

Actually, it doesn't sound like a bad idea.

Last week, I had the opportunity to listen to former premier Bill Vander Zalm at the anti-HST rally in Mission.

Let's just say he was more than fantastic in his message.

CBC Radio Vancouver is coming to Abbotsford May 28. They will be broadcasting live from the seniors centre at the Abbotsford Recreation Centre from 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Rick Cluff from 88.1FM and 690AM Early Edition will feature many local personalities. They include: Abbotsford Police Chief Bob Rich, deputy mayor Dave Loewen and Abbotsford-Mission MLA Randy Hawes. Other guests include: UFV's Satwinder Bains, Karry Kainth and myself.

Stories and issues will be discussed that shape Abbotsford- one of the fastest growing cities in the province. A special live musical performance will be done by singer/songwriter Adaline.

The District of Mission is holding its Annual Volunteer Awards Ceremony on June 6 at the Mission Leisure Centre at 2 p.m. Some of categories include: Arts & Culture, Citizen of the Year, Community Service, Crime Prevention & Community Safety, Lifetime Achievement, Special Accomplishment, Sports Volunteer of the Year and Against the Odds Achievement.

I hope to see you there.

- Contact Ken at kenherar@gmail.com.