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**cargo_brad** · 01-05-2006, 12:42 AM

Zip, I say again, how do you think they get jobs in the private sector?

I stated that the situation is different in the private sector.

I think more things of this nature have to be done as they are in the private sector, such as monetary rewards for excelent contract performance and the like. This was not a reward for work done. The money flowed in the opposite direction. The incentives you refer to are acceptable in the MTA. They are being used in the South Ferry IRT project.

Last May, the authority adopted a "zero-tolerance policy" toward employees who receive gifts from companies and people who do business with the authority. Public agencies have specific rules of conduct involving these situations. In NYC govt, there's the COIB.

In the private sector, I have had much experience with zero-tolerance policies. Several years ago, an employee in one of the Manhattan AT&T buildings was suspended for an argument with another employee. The argument involved the threat of violence, and he was fired. I had pulled many asses out of the flames for more serious work violations, but when I found out that the allegations were correct, I knew I would have a hard time winning the grievance because the company had a zero-tolerance policy concerning violence in the workplace.

I lost the case, and the dismissal stood.

I'll give you two contrasting examples of acceptiing gifts. When we were a monopoly and quasi-public company, the same code-of-conduct forbade us from accepting gifts from customers.

Once, after a large project was completed on time for a brokerage house, the customer sent my group a case of champagne. We knew we had to send it back, knowing that it might be taken as an insult.

On another occasion, we put in a new switching machine for Morgan Stanley at 1585 Bway. After the system was successfully cut into their network, there was a party on premises. We were invited and attended. That was acceptable.

People usually know when they are violating rules, and in the case of the MTA officials, they admitted that they were wrong - so I don't quite understand what your gripe is.

01-05-2006, 12:42 AM	#8
cargo_brad Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 412 Senior Member	Zip, I say again, how do you think they get jobs in the private sector? I stated that the situation is different in the private sector. I think more things of this nature have to be done as they are in the private sector, such as monetary rewards for excelent contract performance and the like. This was not a reward for work done. The money flowed in the opposite direction. The incentives you refer to are acceptable in the MTA. They are being used in the South Ferry IRT project. Last May, the authority adopted a "zero-tolerance policy" toward employees who receive gifts from companies and people who do business with the authority. Public agencies have specific rules of conduct involving these situations. In NYC govt, there's the COIB. In the private sector, I have had much experience with zero-tolerance policies. Several years ago, an employee in one of the Manhattan AT&T buildings was suspended for an argument with another employee. The argument involved the threat of violence, and he was fired. I had pulled many asses out of the flames for more serious work violations, but when I found out that the allegations were correct, I knew I would have a hard time winning the grievance because the company had a zero-tolerance policy concerning violence in the workplace. I lost the case, and the dismissal stood. I'll give you two contrasting examples of acceptiing gifts. When we were a monopoly and quasi-public company, the same code-of-conduct forbade us from accepting gifts from customers. Once, after a large project was completed on time for a brokerage house, the customer sent my group a case of champagne. We knew we had to send it back, knowing that it might be taken as an insult. On another occasion, we put in a new switching machine for Morgan Stanley at 1585 Bway. After the system was successfully cut into their network, there was a party on premises. We were invited and attended. That was acceptable. People usually know when they are violating rules, and in the case of the MTA officials, they admitted that they were wrong - so I don't quite understand what your gripe is.
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