This week's column

I have a few family members who work for the state and the cost of gas is starting to be felt big time. There is a simple thing the state can do and for some reason they are saying 'no' to the idea.

Only the state government can say that a good idea is bad with the only reason being "cause". Not "because", as that word normally is followed by a reason such as "because it would cost tax payers money", but the state response of "cause" as in "cause we say so" is their reason.
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A simple thing called "flex-time" is something that could help many, but it's not allowed. Flex-time is the ability to make some changes to your schedule to make the cost of getting to work lower. Many state workers have jobs that they can still put in their required 40 hours without the constraints of a rigid schedule, and bureaucracy.

John Doe drives to Metro center five times a week for his state job as a clerk. Instead 'John' could shift to a four 10-hour day schedule, still get his work done, and cut 20 percent of the cost of travel. Jane Doe has the same job, and she wants to shift her schedule so that Monday through Thursday she works an hour less, but this allows her to use the Nashville bus service, and she only has to make the long drive one day a week when she works a 12-hour shift Friday.

Government, by its nature, is not flexible. The habit of putting people, and workers into columns, makes their job easier. The problem is that with today's gas prices the state is going to have to become flexible or they may lose a lot of good workers.

A relative of mine works in the Metro Center near fountain square mall in North West Nashville. They know of people who commute from McMinnville and Clarksville to work there. A crappy commute, but good jobs make it worthwhile.

The problem is that an inflexible state government and bureaucracy may make that good job less so, and they look for work in the private sector. The state government, and local governments, need to change with the changing society we live in. Flexible scheduling, and working from home are two that comes to mind.