This might have an actual answer but I’ll post it in here anyway.
“In addition, during his last evaluation, I suggested that he expand his computer skills to improve his value to our organization and I have seen little sign of any classes being taken or any progress toward increasing his knowledge in that area.”
That was last year, regarding Mister Vigilante. This year:
"Have you taken any additional educational programs that would assist you in your job performance and improve your value to blah blah government entity? If so, please advise who, what, where.
Many thanks!"
This was from Mister’s boss to him, today, on a vacation day that he took.
We live in a nice house because it was bought before the recession. We are BARELY able to keep it. We are just breaking even. If not for his obsessive couponing, we would be broke.
Please note: Mister Vigilante is not given money with which to take classes to increase his knowledge. Nor can he do it during work hours. We have to pay for it and he has to do it outside of work hours.
When Mister Vigilante explained that we can’t afford it, the response was “too bad.”
You don’t necessarily need to pay for a class to improve computer skills, there’s a lot of self-help available online. But without more specifics (what skills does he have? what skills would they like him to have?), it’s hard to answer your question. Are they going to fire him if he doesn’t do this? What kind of “computer skills” are they looking for, specifically? Have they even told him? Because there’re a crapload of skills that apply to a computer–building a database, maintaining a database, software development, or even down to something as simple as better powerpoint/word document creation and/or faster typing skills.
Legal and moral. And Microsoft offers tons of free training classes online.
I suggest he run to the library, get a good book on Excel (or whatever he needs), write his boss back that yes, he spent some time learning Excel and give the book name, and spend the weekend with the book. And next year have a plan.
Also, if there is a training department, check with them. They may offer training he isn’t aware of - our is online and you have to go find it. Getting money for “real” training is pulling teeth, but running Skillsoft courses are unlimited. Or find out if they offer tuition reimbursement and take a class through a community college.
I have to maintain my PMP for my job. It 60 hours over three years. They don’t pay for it. Classes are expensive, but if you plan, you can do 60 hours of training over three years in free seminars.
I worked for a company a while back that introduced a Training Library for improving people’s computer skills. The practical problem was that most of the materials were obsolete and/or related to skills that were not immediately applicable. I remember we had some Visual Basic 5 references or tutorials. We didn’t even use Visual Basic 6, let alone something as old as 5. You could make an argument that all computer training materials (e.g. development, office software usage, etc.) has a marginal usage, but most of the stuff in there wouldn’t increase anyone’s productivity by any substantial amount anytime soon.
And that’s one of the reasons why companies have moved towards “drive your own training” - especially with higher level computer skills. If you buy books, they have a limited life (however, pivot tables haven’t changed too much). If you bring in a trainer, half the class complains it was too introductory, the other half that they didn’t understand it.
And what training has the agency already given him? My agency only entered the 20th century around 2005- but that was seven years ago. I shouldn’t still be dealing with people who don’t know how to send an email, complete an electronic timesheet , or use a template in Word - they were all given training when the changes rolled out and many of them were given additional training after that. But I’m still sending people to Word training next month.
I doubt very much that the supervisor cares whether Mr Vigilante takes a course that requires payment, takes a free course at a library, reads a book, or just learns the skills by playing around with the programs involved. I know I don't much care how my staff learns Word- as long as they do.
He was given no training. He was hired on his previous knowledge. He has to provide proof of this “new” training via the certificates you print out at the end of each class with your name on them. Those cost money. He is an engineer. He was hired to be the archive manager for all the hard copies; since then he’s been designing parking lots and using Photoshop to make pretty pictures of all things, even though when he was hired Photoshop was not required. I pretty much taught him Photoshop. So he has to train himself in things he was not hired for.
They have laid off a LOT of people. 300 more will be gone this June.
I’m sorry but I don’t want to give out more; I don’t want him tagged in searches. His work is computer work but apparently if he isn’t wandering around looking busy (he’s at his desk, working, natch) he appears as though he is not working.
I just want to know how to reply to that email he got and if it’s even legal to be required to train yourself on your own time with your own money for employment training when it’s a government job. In my experience in the public sector, they pay you, you do it during work hours, done.
The OP notes that the directive was a ‘suggestion to improve value’… It doesn’t sound to me like anything is being done wrong. His position, as it is, may have been marked for termination, rather than him, so his value needed upgrading. That’s my read of the memo. His boss may have liked him and given him that much of a heads up. Doesn’t sound like boss is doing anything wrong.
Appears that your SO should just quit and let you take over his job.
Seriously, of course it’s legal for his boss to make these types of requests. Maybe your SO should join a union and see if they can get his boss off his back.
It sounds like this is the beginning of the end for this job. If they are laying people off, then they don’t have the budget to train - a lot of companies and government agencies will choose to keep people on and make them responsible for their own training rather than let layoffs go deeper. My old company did that and those of us who kept our jobs were simply grateful to be employed - even if I put out my own dollars for training that year. Have him start looking if he hasn’t already.
But, yes, it is legal. It probably isn’t common in the public sector, but unless he is union and his union contract specifies training will be included on their time and their expense, its legal.
Thanks for the replies everyone. Unfortunately I can’t create a certificate; he had to get the place he’s getting training from approved first. He nearly walked out of the meeting with a hearty “fuck off” but I can’t afford this house by myself and although I’ve suggested downsizing, he wants to keep the house. I’ll check on the union thing but I don’t think he’s in one.