A Productive Workforce

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A productive workforce is one that delivers goods and services in an efficient manner and continuously strives to improve.

Desired Outcomes
Service Delivery: Programs are designed and delivered to meet the needs of citizens.

Performance Indicators
* Employees participate in the development of service standards.
* Targets for service and productivity are set and performance is measured against these targets.
* Initiatives are undertaken to improve the quality of service to clients and productivity.
* Employees provide creative solutions to problems and innovative approaches to client service.
* Employees receive ongoing feedback on their performance and use it to improve their productivity.
* Full, quality services are provided in a timely manner and in both official languages.

Desired Outcomes
Clarity of Responsibilities: Roles, responsibilities and performance expectations are clearly defined, understood and accepted.

Performance Indicators
* Work is evaluated on the basis of accurate job descriptions.
* Levels of service and standards of productivity are known and accepted.
* Goals and objectives are met.
* Staff performance is recognized and rewarded.

Desired Outcomes
Organization of Work: Work is organized and assigned to facilitate timely decision making and improvements in productivity.

Performance Indicators
* The organization has no duplication of services or conflict between the types of services provided throughout the organization.
* Teams increase efficiency and effectiveness.
* Individuals or working groups in different parts of the organization co-operate to facilitate the progress of projects.
* Procedures are applied flexibly to meet objectives in the best ways.

Desired Outcomes
Employment Strategies: Strategies to attract skilled persons ensure good value for the money and are simple, timely and efficient.

Performance Indicators
* Employees have the competencies to meet the needs of the organization.
* Managers are supported in meeting and responding to their human resources needs.
* Staffing practices conform to the requirements of the Staffing Delegation and Accountability Agreement signed by the department and the Public Service Commission.
* The organization’s approach to employing and retaining people and its human resources management processes are fair, equitable and transparent.

* Fairness: Decisions are made objectively, free from political or bureaucratic patronage; practices reflect the just treatment of employees and applicants.
* Equity: There is equal access to employment opportunities; staffing practices are barrier-free and inclusive.
* Transparency: There is open communication with employees and applicants about human resources management practices and decisions.

Why Diets Won’t Work….

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People who diet often can lower their metabolisms enough to decrease their caloric needs. This can be done in two ways:

First, a diet of less than 1000-1200 calories can actually cause a starvation-like state and force your body to conserve calories The body will cut back its caloric needs to survive. Therefore, you won’t lose more in the long run on a 500-calorie diet than you would on one above 1000 calories. This starvation state can lower the metabolism for as much as one year.

Second, crash dieting can change the body’s composition. Let’s say you lost 10 pounds in two weeks. Most of that weight was water (5 pounds), some was fat (3 pounds) and the rest was muscle (2 pounds). When the weight is regained (as 95 percent is), it comes back in the form of fat and water. Every future diet can perpetuate this downward cycle of muscle loss; the chronic dieter may change their percentage of body fat over time from 25 percent to 35-40 percent. Surprisingly, the scale may not show large amounts of weight change. Muscle burns up more calories than fat and chronic dieting makes you lose a large percentage of what helps you keep trim. This Yo-Yo effect of losing and regaining can harm the body. It is better to never have dieted at all than to keep losing and regaining the same 1020 pounds.

What does help lose and maintain weight is healthy eating habits and food choices and a more active lifestyle. Take a fresh look at your daily diet and exercise — get rid of the idea that a diet is something to endure for a month after which you can go back to your old habits. Make short- and long-term goals to slowly change your lifestyle to include healthier food choices and to be more active at work and play.