Hartford used to move slowly on change, and always took care to involve front-line employees who will be working with the changes. As a result, Hartford rarely tried to implement rules, procedures, etc. that made no sense or were unworkable.
But Hartford has stretched workloads beyond all manageability while cutting other resources as well. We are hit over and over with demands we do more and more, and never told what we can omit to allow time for the new work loads. No one - management or workers - have time to involve front line people or managers simply won't do it.
My department is being pressed to use silly, time-wasting procedures that are far inferior to prior procedures. If there are reasons for it, no one is sharing them with us. I used to be able to share constructive criticism with my supervisor. Now I'm convinced I'd be fired for anything less than full approval of everything. The assumptions he (and management above him) makes about what our work is like are now completely out of touch with reality as a result. All he seems to care about is that no one puts him in trouble, and what promotion he might seek.
Workloads have also destroyed interdepartmental relations. My department interfaces with several other, and we used to have a very good relationship. Now, it seems to be all about trying to make sure we aren't allowing anyone else to push work on us, and we are fighting off accusations we are pushing off work.
A co-worker commented that the only reason anyone is staying with their jobs is a poor job market, and they may be right.
