Employment Tips
If your position or agency is being downsized or eliminated:
1. Since Animal Control/Care positions are typically viewed as "low" on the government fiscal totem pole, several agencies throughout the United States are being targeted for downsizing or outright elimination. Here are some things that you can do to fight for your rights as an employee and to garner support for your agency.
2. First, try and determine if your job/agency is really being targeted for elimination. Rumors typically persist in government work; you might be worrying about nothing more than a rumor or gossip. Contact your immediate supervisor or Human Resources Manager. Find out for certain if your position/department is being targeted for elimination.
Try and determine if your position/agency is providing enough information to government officials regarding the importance of your position and/or agency. You should already be offering this information. Within Animal Control and Care, it is a constant battle for survival. Provide monthly and year-end statistical data to your Manager. The Manager, in-turn, should forward this data to his/her supervisor, department manager and city council or county commission. Make sure this systemic flow of information is intact. Any break down in the flow of information to those individuals responsible for making such decisions is detrimental. It is those individuals that need to understand your value and position. We, as Animal Control/Care professionals, need to justify our existence every second of every day. It's the nature of our work and should not be taken lightly.Maintain and monitor operational statistics and trends. These measurements can help you place a ‘value’ on the services you provide; the more valuable your organization is to a community the less likely your services are going to be reduced or eliminated. Statistics such as the number of animals housed, the number of calls for service, bite statistics, how many students your humane education program has reached and other measureable numbers may be unknown to the majority of your citizens, including the elected, appointed or administrative officials that ultimately make these decisions. Keep these numbers handy, and beyond the numbers keep key talking points of the vast number of vital services your organization provides as readily accessible and in the public’s eye as often as possible. We, as animal care and control professionals, know the importance of our services and sometimes assume the rest of the community does as well. This is not always the case and it is our responsibility to make sure that animal care and control remains a vital part of the services provided to our respective communities.
3. If you have friends in "high places", you need to tap that political influence in an effort to gain support for your position/agency. Although they may already be aware of the importance of your work, you need to remind them. Inform them of the potential victims (animals and public health/safety) as the result or cutbacks and layoffs. If an election year, such staffing reductions may be unpopular with voters and supporters of your agency.
4. Draw on your support. If you discover that layoff or agency elimination is imminent, contact your supporters in the community. Other animal control/care agencies, humane societies, rescue groups, advisory boards and citizens have a voice. And for most, they are registered voters. Have them contact - directly - their city council or county commission members in an effort to relay their concerns regarding your situation.
It is important for you to attend your local Board of Supervisor or City Council meetings as a constituent and express the community’s needs for animal control. Do not attend these meetings in uniform or represent the Agency you work for. Go as a taxpaying constituent and express the needs and desires of how you want your tax money spent. Bring as many community members to the meetings as possible. Change is made through community opinion!
Contact all local law enforcement involved (Sheriff, Chiefs of Police, etc.) and keep them involved. The burden of enforcement will fall on these departments if your positions are eliminated and you should receive strong support from them. None of these agencies want this burden.
It is important to gain and then maintain community awareness and support even in a good budget year to build those relationships so that the support is there when you need it. Make sure that you have “introduced” yourself to the community by publishing a mission statement and a brochure or flyer that outlines who you are and what services your agency provides both to people and pets. Use your website as another way of letting the public know who you are and what you do. Regular press releases can also help to keep you in the public eye – so that everyone is aware of your organization and the service it provides. Then if you are targeted for a budget reduction you can issue a press release to inform the community of what a reduction might mean i.e. fewer animal control officers, less educational programs, shorter holding period for animals or other change in service levels. Public awareness is essential and then keeping them informed is critical to the health and survival of your organization.
5. Compare your situation with other city/county departments. Is your agency being unfairly targeted for layoffs or department elimination? Is your city/county considering the transfer of service to a contractor? If so, you might review the information found via this link for more information.
6. Are you represented by a union? If so, know your entitlements. Contact your union representative as soon as possible. Chances are that the union has already been made aware of your situation. What severance pay/benefits is your agency offering to you? Have you received a termination agreement which outlines your separation? If so, always have this document reviewed by a union representative. You have legal recourse if the agency does not pay you what you are entitled to under your agreement with them and state and federal laws, and even union rules (if applicable to you) governing such things as redundancy packages etc. In addition to this, find out if you are eligible for any government unemployment benefits – in case you need them. If you are with a union, you should seek out their advice now. For all you know, there may be something else you can do to save your job, especially if it is through discriminatory actions or unfair harassment. If you are not with a Union, contact a legal professional or an employment professional to find out your rights. Even if you are fired, you do have rights. And when you are fired, you still have rights. Have you been unfairly dismissed? You can make a claim if you have. You are also entitled to a settlement payout if you have been fired, so make sure you receive all your entitlements. If you can, find someone “friendly” to give you a good, written reference before you leave.
As a reminder:
1. Keep a written log of all communications, verbal or otherwise, between yourself and others at your place of employment, including any discriminatory behavior/comments. Retain copies of any hardcopy document pertaining to your situation. If you sign any document, demand a copy right away.
2. If you are not satisfied in your current position, quite possibly this may be a good time to look elsewhere for work. Update your resume and start searching for new employment. Be aware that if your dismissal turned "ugly" and you are later rehired, you might not be welcomed back with open arms. Your previous work relationship may not be restored to the same level when you are rehired.
It is not bad to keep your options open. If your job is potentially being cut then others are too and the pool of jobs in the field is getting smaller. Expand your mind to what other ways you can maintain your employment and still work for the benefit of the animals we care so much about. Remember to keep the bridge intact because the agency may have impact and influence on your future. It is a feeling of rejection and disapproval when it is implied you/your agency are not important enough to sustain in your community. Many times it is an uninformed, difficult and sometimes necessary decision that someone has to make.