It’s Government, What to Expect - Associate Governmental Program Analyst (AGPA) Caltrans Employee Review

* Goal in State employment is to ‘move up the ranks’ to gain salary and retirement benefits. Often managers try to move up their last 3 years to gain higher retirement, then age out. This sets up the system for individuals who wish to gain benefits than perform the job. * Management moves up the rank due to who they know, not based on true management skills as in the private sector. They also take the staff they choose based on ‘yes’ people to accomplish their own goals. * State system is outdated with bureaucracy, old policies and process, many staff say it’s like working in the 1990’s. * State does not have modern resources and often outsource to private contractors to complete work. * Managers don’t truly know how to manage, the training through Leadership programs are archaic and don’t train managers to motivate staff or work through process improvement. I’ve attended in observation of leadership trainings as I was a coordinator once and was surprised why the content of program. Have several friends promoted by choice and they mimic the same sentiment. * Unskilled managers rhetoric: “Thanks for all your work, we know we have less resources, but we trust you’ll get the job done.” Do not complete annual employee performance reviews, independent development plan, or training plans. Often employees have to ask for such evaluations.