Member-only story
Government Workers Cry ‘Big Brother’ Over Accountability — Welcome to the Real World
Losing a job is tough, but accountability isn’t oppression — it’s reality
Let's put things into perspective if you work for the government and believe that being asked to account for your productivity is “Big Brother” or an overreach.
In corporate America, I was required to document every aspect of my work. Every customer interaction, including meeting times and durations, was double- and triple-documented. Every penny spent on travel—even a bottle of water at the airport—had to be accounted for.
When a new supervisor took over, I was required to complete a seven-tab spreadsheet detailing an entire YEAR’S worth of work, including how I spent my time and the percentage dedicated to calls, meetings, training, documentation, and internal development. Talk about an exhausting and humiliating task and time taken away from serving customers.
As a teacher, I was held accountable to my principal, the school board, and the parents of 23 students. I had to plan my lessons and submit them for approval. I had to have a 1:1 with every parent multiple times each year. I was observed and critiqued on a regular basis. I had to pay for and attend classes each year to keep my license and…
