Group's advice yields change to weekend hours

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  • By Mike Molina
  • Editor
DENVER --  The Air Reserve Personnel Center's contact center is now open three Saturdays a month thanks to the recommendation of a new group that fields ideas and suggestions from employees.

The "Wilson Consulting Group" takes its name from the smiley-faced volleyball that sits atop the suggestion basket that employees can use to offer ideas. The group is made up of nine directorate of personnel services employees, including seven Airmen and two civilians. There are no supervisors or managers on the team, and the group's seven Airmen range from senior airman to technical sergeant.

"I think this is great for employee morale," said Leisha Kiel, one of the group's two civilian employees. "This gives people another channel to voice their opinions."

During the first meeting Aug. 7, the group reviewed a number of suggestions covering more than 20 topics, including several that suggested the change to Saturdays-only to support Guard and Reserve unit training assemblies. The contact center was previously open two weekends of every month to support UTAs.

The group presented the suggestion to ARPC leaders, who accepted the idea and will implement the change beginning in October.

"The fact that people brought up this suggestion, and it's made a change, is great," said Tech. Sgt. Juan Williams, a contact center representative and member of the Wilson group. "People can see that our leaders are listening."

Dave Aldrich, DPS director, said he wanted to give employees another way to voice their opinions when he came up with the idea for the internal advisory group. 

"This is a natural step to empower employees," Mr. Aldrich said. "Don't just say they are empowered -- give them a voice. Let them evaluate the good ideas and weed out the weaker suggestions, then do it. It's a risk that management takes, but for people, it's how they will believe that their voice is important."

The group has met three times and plans to meet at least once a month to discuss any new suggestions. The "idea basket" is always open and when people voice their ideas the group sifts through and picks the best stuff.

"This is a good communication tool," said Waleed Sharbini, who also sits on the group. "You can see what other people are thinking or suggesting. It's one more way to improve the work environment."