The Private Sector

Yes, it was clear that you were talking about some.  I hope I didn't infer all postal employees were bad.  Just like you said, there were those who took advantage of the system and those who did the right thing even when consequences for poor performance (or nonperformance) were removed.  For some, their performance is its own reward.

It does seem like there should be a happy medium - a way to combine the best of both systems while eliminating the problems of both.  Your experience and expertise certainly give you the perspective to be the one to make that breakthrough.    

I hope I made it clear that SOME individuals have become lazy, I do work with some really fantastic people (who share Janey's and my work ethic).

We had a discussion about this at home last night and the ethical question about the US and the UK health systems. In the UK, society has made a moral choice to provide health care for all in a public service capacity. Kudos for the morals of universal health care, moral problems with clinical servants who abuse the system. The US has made a moral choice to use a market place health care system. Kudos for advancing innovation and clinical skills, moral problems because many can't afford it and must go without. I really don't think one is BETTER than the other, but I wonder if one could combine the best of both whilst eliminating the worst of both.

I guess that's why I'm back in school, to find that out.

I guess civil employees aren't so different an ocean apart.  My grandmother worked as assistant to the Postmaster for over 40 years.  She didn't retire.  She was on sick leave when she passed.  Sick leave that she had never used.  She had over a  year and half of sick leave in her bank.  She had another year plus in her vacation time bank.  The woman had one of the strongest work ethics I've ever seen.  The only reason she was taking leave then was because she couldn't see.  A blood clot behind one eye rendered her temporarily blind, which revealed a cataract in the other eye that allowed only partial vision.  

I can still hear her complaining about the sorry employees the system bred.  The employees would reach a certain point and they knew they couldn't get fired, so they didn't work.  They showed up, took breaks, ate lunch, and cashed their checks, but did little else.  You could write them up, but you couldn't fire them.  Kind of like our education system today.  Teachers can complain about the kids' behavior, but they aren't allowed to discipline them.

When consequences are removed, there is no incentive to do the right thing.   Because often not only is there no consequence for poor behavior, but there is also no reward for good behavior.  Only those with a strong inner moral compass will rise above.  It's when you find out what people are really made of.  

It will be interesting to see how the UK fares.