City of Fargo employees share their disapproval of the workplace environment in survey
FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — Many employees across the City of Fargo share their disappointment with the city’s lack of care for their work and for the city. Some are calling on all city commissioners to be removed, and others are calling for commissioners to speak with their employees and not the media.
“Our commission members create a hostile work environment for many departments. Working hard and seeing your work get dismantled by our “leadership” is discouraging. Commissioners are allowed to destroy departments and other commissioners as if it is a free-for-all on social media, radio, news, and other outlets. This separates us as a city.”
In August, four City of Fargo Communication employees had left the department, alleging a toxic workplace environment. One former employee stated in their resignation letter that they did not appreciate Commissioner Dave Piepkorn’s comments on their work. Now, several current employees wish that commissioners and supervisors would take time to see the work that they do.
“I believe 1 commissioner has been in our building in the last 2 years, and it wasn’t even our liaison. Most of the commissioners do not care about city staff, do nothing to try to get to know any of us, or to understand what we do. How do they expect to make any changes to the way the City “works” if they do not understand how it currently works!”
Some employees shared in further comments that they don’t believe anything will change with their survey responses. While some felt that if they responded that there would be some retaliation. But City Commissioner Denise Kolpack says that these survey results aren’t something that will be overlooked.
“I think we have a fiduciary responsibility to protect our greatest asset, and that’s our people. There is seventy six percent of our general operating budget is for our employees’ salaries and benefits. And so we absolutely need to take this feedback to heart and get action plans in place and start addressing the issues that many of the employees bravely listed as their concerns,” said Kolpack.
Kolpack says she has been meeting with employees after the survey results were initially released. And she says there is still work to be done.
City of Fargo Employee Surveys:
