... problem or opportunity?
Been having a real struggle with how to proceed in explaining the question: "Is The Party Over For Credit Unions?" [link]. It appears to be a serious question for all credit unions; and if true, what does that mean for the future of SECU and its member-owners? Always many subtle twists and turns in looking to the future, but the signals and signposts are plentiful - increasingly hard to miss!
Have tried to establish a baseline for this discussion by outlining how and why credit unions were created and how they have evolved from highly limited, employer-based benefits to broader, federally-insured consumer financial institutions (see above post for background links).
But the bottom line is simple, if you really don't believe there is a distinct difference in purpose, practice and principles between a credit union and a bank - then game over, fold up the tents. And by the way, its quite alright if in fact there is no longer a difference between the two. Fine, okay but let's all stop lying about it and move on!
Found a starting point in yesterday's comments:
That story sure beats a "We are SECU" SuperBowl ad!
Complaining about not closing for a week at Christmas, not closing during bad weather, having to use PTO if you don't want to come to work is a really good way to continue the devalution of the branch. You can't argue that branches are valuable and understaffed then also argue branches should close because its only a "minor inconvenience" to members. Branches are there to serve members. You need to be open for that. Thats the job you applied for and accepted. Its a basic agreement. You come to work, they pay you, take pto if you won't be there. If management says no, report it to that "real" HR dept.
ReplyDeleteThis comment is absurd. SECU is open 249 days out of the year (260 week days minus our 11 paid holidays). Employees wishing we still got *one* additional day for Christmas to spend with our families and pointing out that SECU branches should perhaps close or modify their hours during severe weather for the safety of their employees is not "devaluing the branch." Wanting more staff to meet the demand during the 249 days in which we are open is not in any way at odds with these comments.
Delete"Branches are there to serve members. You need to be open for that."
We are. We are open nine hours a day, every day of the week, with very few exceptions. This is a ridiculous comment.
This narrative seems a little disingenuous. No one is saying we should shut down every branch in the state for the entire day because there might be adverse weather. However, many of us have experienced branches remaining open all day long during truly bad weather, the kind where local emergency services are encouraging everyone to stay off the roads because it's dangerous. Yes, we need to be there for our members - of course. I understand closing a branch, or closing early, is a serious decision that impacts our members and should not be made lightly. However, SECU employees are people (and members) too, and branch availability should not come at the expense of potential employee safety. I'm not saying SECU should make a company-wide closure decision - it should be localized. But the fact is some managers are much more reluctant to close than others, which is not fair to their employees.
ReplyDeleteTo address the point about "if you don't feel safe, don't come" - fine. But clearly *some* employees have to come to work if the branch is going to remain open. I know when this happened in the past we were very strongly encouraged to come to work even if we did try to call out. We were told it's not that bad, the roads are fine, someone can come pick you up, etc. No one "made" us come in, in the literal sense, but when your direct manager - who controls your promotions, merit raises, and career path - makes it very clear that they expect you to come in, especially when "everyone else is," it's not as easy as just calling out.
Yada, yada.... not someone to be relied upon in any situation... work or life. The classic yes- butter!
DeleteClassic non-response. But hey, at least this time you actually posted my comment!
DeleteCall the honor line if your manager tells you that you can't take off or if they retaliate when you do. If the weather is that bad and enough employees feel unsafe then the branch could close or run drive thru only. Again thats a local management decision. If any managers are unable to accept the fact that some employees may feel unsafe driving in adverse conditions then maybe they shouldn't be managers.
DeleteThe 7:01 pm is right about lack of full response.
DeleteThe reaction was to the many "however"s... such as : "Yes, we need to be there for our members - of course....However..." and to statements such as:
"To address the point about "if you don't feel safe, don't come" - fine. But ..." ... is it fine or isn't it?
"No one "made" us come in, in the literal sense, but.." Believe that says no one made us come in, doesn't it?
To be clearer, neither a branch, or SECU, nor any business can succeed if managed based on the "lowest common denominator" ... in fairness to all, those folks should be actively encouraged to stay safely at home.
(...practicing my Elon Musk communications skill here...)
Still an unnecessarily critical comment, especially if you are trying to foster dialogue on the blog.
Delete9:21 am Only stifles dialogue if you feel it is "unnecessarily critical" for a commenter to object to a quibbler.
DeleteSuper Bowl ad? What evidence is there of a super bowl ad? Seems like an expensive proposition.
ReplyDeleteask Leigh and if she doesn't tell the truth will be happy to out her via WRAL records. But quit wimping out and ask our CEO, isn't that hard to do.
Deletelets see the records then!
DeleteOur CEO said the ad wasn't scheduled? where?when?
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ReplyDeleteInclement Weather
"Your local branch may be operating on a modified schedule due to inclement weather. Before deciding to travel, please visit our Find a Branch and ATM page to search for your branch’s hours or phone number to confirm."
right from the website
Some of you are looking for a perfect answer to an imperfect situation - it’s a false choice. It’s a question that’s been argued ad nauseum since there was a branch network. Branches are always open until they are not. I managed a branch for 40 years through all kinds of weather events. It was very rare that the branch did not open for some portion of the day. The VPs and SVPs in their branch made the calls. We did not ask someone who was not there to make the call for us nor would we have wanted them to.
ReplyDeleteAnd not surprisingly the lowest common denominator always found a reason to stay home (fine, it’s their PTO) and your best employees usually found a way to get in (they took their responsibility seriously). And (probably in contrast to HR policy) if the majority of staff made it in then those that did not were charged PTO and if the majority did not make it in the those that did got extra time off and the rest were not charged PTO. Employees appreciated it and thought it was fair. No one was made to stay if they wanted to leave and no one was made to come in if they said they couldn’t. Tried to be fair and treat people like adults and it worked. It’s the kobayashi maru (google it) - there is no perfect solution. Life ain't always black and white - it's mostly gray. Figure it out.
There was also a responsibility to members (we considered it a calling as crazy as that sounds to some of you) and a responsibility to the organization. SECU was a different animal until the changes started in 2021.
Life isn’t grey (or is it gray). It is black and white, right and wrong, off and on, open and closed, dead and alive. Whether you choose to acknowledge that is up to you. Glad you were not my manager.
DeleteObvious this person has never managed people. I wonder if this commenter would have the same outlook if a police officer gave them a speeding ticket for going 56mph in a 55mph zone. Not sure many would agree with your comment that life is black or white. Wish it was that simple.
DeleteGlad you were not my employee.
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