From the Editor
Putting the Spotlight on the Public Sector
Since 1985, the first full week in May has been designated as Public Service Recognition Week (PSRW).
This year, PSHRA marked the occasion in a number of ways— emails from the PSHRA team thanking our members for their service, spotlighting daily public service-related quotes from prominent figures on our social media channels, and sharing a collection of resources and examples of what a handful of agencies were planning for this special week.
This edition of Public Eye puts a few of those same agencies in the spotlight, with “A Celebration of Superheroes” detailing how a number of PSHRA member organizations recognized their dedicated employees throughout PSRW.
In an April 18 letter, for example, Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) Executive Director Henry Williams expressed the organization’s gratitude to its nearly 200 employees, inviting them to attend one of two baked potato bar recognition lunch events held during PSRW.
Public Service Recognition Week “is a fantastic opportunity to honor and appreciate the dedicated individuals who serve their communities through public service,” Heather Dery, employee engagement analyst at MGCB, told Public Eye.
“Recognizing our nearly 200 employees during PSRW fosters a sense of pride and morale within our agency,” said Dery, “and demonstrates that our contributions to ensuring the integrity and fairness of gaming activities in the state are valued and appreciated.”
The City of Henderson, Nev., incorporated food into its PSRW activities too, organizing a “Spring Fling” appreciation event boasting food trucks, activities and game booths for the city’s nearly 3,500 employees and their families.
“We recognize that our [employees] work very hard to provide essential services necessary for the functioning of our community,” Mimi Merhi, Henderson’s HR programs coordinator, told Public Eye.
“Holding a celebration such as this one, during Public Service Recognition Week, is one way we show gratitude for their hard work, dedication and commitment to excellence. Without them, we would not be the premier community that we are.”
The hard-working government employees that Merhi describes come from all corners of the working world.
For instance, this issue’s cover story, “An Unconventional Approach,” looks at the many strengths that neurodiverse employees bring to the public sector workplace. Defining neurodiversity as “the range of differences in individual brain function and behavioral traits,” Eagle Hill Consulting CEO Melissa Jezior notes that studies estimate somewhere between 15% and 20% of the population is neurodiverse.
This number includes those who are diagnosed with dyslexia (up to 10%), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (5%), and 1% to 2% with autism. The talented individuals who are considered neurodiverse can bring tremendous value to public sector employers, Jezior said.
“Neurodivergent workers often have exceptional talents when it comes to creative problem-solving, attention to detail, math and data analytics skills, reliability and perseverance—all skills that are highly valued in government.”
Implementing hiring and retention initiatives focused on the neurodivergent population at the state and local level “promises to be a smart move that can help address chronic workforce shortages,” added Jezior.
Tapping into the deep pool of neurodivergent talent “certainly holds promise for government agencies,” she continued, noting that doing so means creating the type of inclusive culture that organizations should be striving for; the type of public sector work environment that we celebrate in this issue.
“It requires strategic thinking and planning,” Jezior wrote, “not only to get these employees in the door, but to create a culture that will leverage their talents and make them feel a sense of belonging so that they stay.”
In This Issue
An Unconventional Approach: Embracing Neurodiversity to Help Fill Government Jobs
A Celebration of Superheroes: Unpacking Public Service Recognition Week 2024
For Everyone’s Benefit: Giving Government Well-Being Programs a Boost
Always Room to Improve: New Jersey Shares COVID Response Lessons Learned
Government 101: Introducing Young Talent to the Public Sector
Policies, Not Politics: Navigating Public Affairs Discussions in the Workplace
Minimizing Legal Liabilities: Social Media and Censorship in the Public Sector
Important Provisions: The Inflation Reduction Act’s Impact on Group Medicare Part D Plans
Meet the Member – Destined for Public Service: Brody Lorda Follows the Family Career Path
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