Writeups Don't Work!

Dear CTA mismanagers (not managers): When you chose to punish us, it does nothing but build resentment. 95% of the time, it is not "corrective." It is "destructive." 

Rewarding us for doing our jobs is far more beneficial than punishing us for alleged sins—especially for being sick or not working fast enough for you when we are understaffed and lack proper tools and equipment. 

As workplace consultant Joan Turley states: Write-ups Don't Work. Teaching and inspiring people works. Beatings don't work.

When you use punishment such as writeups to retaliate because you don't like our personality, religion, politics, union affiliation or whatever, you create a storm of hate for you. This path of unjust punitive acts against the ATU workers is harming public transportation in Chicago.

For union reps like myself, you build a paper trail equal to—or greater than—the one you put on us.

You are making us hate being at work. You are making us sick. You are fostering an environment that hurts the riders.

I am a non-violent, rules-compliant warner to you. Probably one of the best chances you have to turn this failing agency around. I am like an annoying carbon monoxide detector of mismanagement and abuse. You can take the battery out, remove it, call cops on it or kill it. But the hazard and looming catastrophe will still exist.

Stop this destructive path, repent and treat us with dignity. 

More articles about how punishment does not make employees work better, safer or with enthusiasm:

Why Punitive Leaders Fail (Psychology Today) 

Why Workplace Punishment Doesn't Work (Monitask Blog)

Are you Guilty of Performance Punishment? (Psychology Today)