GLENDALE : City Workers Report Low Morale in Study

Morale is low among Glendale city employees who face heavy workloads and unrealistic expectations in the wake of a hiring freeze, according to a recent survey.

More than 1,000 city employees from planners to firefighters to librarians were asked a variety of questions centering around how well division managers operate their departments and relate to employees.

Employees’ answers were used as the basis for suggestions to improve city functions given in a “Citywide Organizational Assessment” released this week by Woodland Hills-based consultants The Warner Group.

City expenditures have exceeded revenues for four years, forcing the city to institute a hiring freeze and requiring employees to work weekends, holidays and overtime to keep up with the workload, according to the study.

Consequently, more than 63% of city employees surveyed said their division does not have enough workers to keep up with daily workloads.

Councilwoman Eileen Givens said the city’s ratio of employees to residents is the lowest in 15 years, requiring city employees to provide the same level of service with less staff.

“People want more and more services with less and less money. Residents expect the same service levels they had five years ago, whether it’s trimming palm trees or resurfacing streets,” she said.

Officials said that they are concerned by survey results that show 45% of city employees don’t feel they are an important part of the organization and that 47% of the employees said city divisions do not work together to solve problems.

Mayor Larry Zarian said problems with morale and heavy workloads can be addressed in part by opening up communication among division managers and employees. Zarian said he and city administrators have been meeting with employees to hear their concerns for the past several months.