Research and input from consultants and St. Charles Community College gave City Administrator Patrick Banger a snapshot of the city's workers, how and where they interact. Team-building steps, ranging from picnics to a safety incentive program, were aimed at helping foster awareness, cooperation and interaction. The idea flourishes. In just over a year, the employee turnover rate has dropped from 20 percent to 4 percent. Workers' compensation claims have dropped nearly 60 percent.
Projects come in on time and under budget.
It was difficult, because nobody knew each other. This was a way of promoting interdepartmental working together. Bostic sees the cooperation first-hand, visiting all departments frequently to field questions about human resource issues. She's also been on the receiving end of the city's teamwork efforts. Bostic got a hand from the finance department with data entry, completing an elaborate salary survey under deadline.