I recently participated in a Productivity Study (forum) which was sponsored by the National Council for Productivity and Competitiveness. Though I  reluctantly attended, I was hoping that what I was experiencing as far as work ethics in my first job ever in St Lucia and as a returning resident , would have been unique to the company I worked for; (although deep down inside I knew otherwise),  I was trying to be optimistic.  It's been said "it's the culture"!

I mostly listened and observed in dismay at what my fellow participants had to say regarding low/stagnant productivity in all sectors of businesses on the island. Wasn’t this the same things my parents complained about almost 30 years ago during my childhood?  Yes, 30 years later, people were still not being punctual to work, still engaged in truancy, still did not see the value of doing the best job possible and having a positive work ethic and equating everything they did or did not do with money/pay and employers were still condoning it.  Point being, these behaviors had been perpetuated by employers for generations and it had become a vicious cycle.  Is it really taking us  30  plus years to see the need for such a study? Of course not!  I’ve been hearing about it my entire life, except that now that I am employed here on the island I’m getting to experience it first hand....and it is very traumatizing!  Yes I said traumatic! How so? 

Having lived abroad in the USA for 27 + years and working for a major airline where one had to be on time, and by that I mean- on time- being ready to assist the next customer at the start of your shift, no, not walking into the building, no, not putting your personals into the locker, no,  not putting your lunch in the break room or refrigerator.  I mean, being ready to promptly begin work on time, when your shift began. Doing so after commuting 14 miles to work and then taking  a shuttle bus from the parking lot to the work site on my own time; where you were given/paid sick time, but if used,  the point system in place for attendance, counted this as derogatory against your attendance; where if there was `18 inches of snow you were still expected to be to work and on time, yes, even early, and everyone complied without complaining. That was/is the norm...either you need/want the job or you don’t! No exceptions! So here I was at this meeting at 140 pm (because being late is not an option), being the first one there and still awaiting everyones arrival until 215 pm.  What a shocker! I knew the employees were guilty of that but certainly not the employers!

Well some of the employers/participants were foreigners .... and many of them shared my sentiments, but sadly they had fallen into the “trap” of complacency and tolerance and had now “joined the band wagon” as it were!  As the saying goes “if you cannot beat them join them”, for one participant stated the reason why she was late was because she knew the forum would never begin on time......how about leading by example folks.  

Then, just about everyone criticized the St. Lucia government agencies for their inefficient, lackadaisical attitude towards customers-the citizens of the country they oathed to serve and to  work for.  So true, for I had just two days before experienced this first hand when I went to the Customs and Excise Department.....and then I was told that  the cvil servants are virtually “untouchable”....so the don’t have to perform, there are no consequences for not performing or  not being polite and courteous and providing efficient service, wait! Did I say efficient? Forget efficient , service at all....wow! How disheartening, for both you and I know that our people migrate to foreign countries-USA,Canada, UK, Europe and  readily conform to the standards there.  Sadly,  they do not value their country enough to invest the same work ethic right here at home!  

At the end of it all, my greatest frustration is this: we know the issues but how do we resolve them?

1. People must be held accountbale for not complying and there must be consequences in the form of progressive discipline...to see improvement and get results. Let’s not just talk the talk...we need to walk the walk....apparently there are rules, regulations and labor laws in place, but they are not enforced.  Let’s change that!
2. Stop being tolerant of mediocrity- we have grown to accept the sub -standard behavior.
3. Manage employee performance-human beings thrive on commendation, appreciation  and recognition, this will be the motivating factor.
4. Be consistent- work through the challenges to foster change,  when these changes are realized people will be motivated to become active insteading of remaining passive and  complacent.

We are a great people, a warm friendly culture by nature but that’s not enough for our survival and that of our progeny into the future! WE MUST wake up, smell the coffee and take action!