The four problem-solving strategies considered as most applicable to assistance payments workers are time management, support group, negotiation, and problem solving. Although Genesee County was not incorporated in this study, district offices in nearby Oakland and Wayne Counties were and are considered rebuttably representative of the district offices in Genesee County. The Department of Social Services has wrestled with the issue of assistance payments job priorities over the years, but it has never been able to establish a list of priorities by rank. This issue remains a concern with assistance payments workers because by default the department has left this determination as an informal one within its offices and units around the state, often creating conflict for workers who transfer between counties or other work units or even caseloads. Time wasters, however, can be dealt with by the worker, provided they are recognized.
Some time wasters are obvious, others are more subtle.
Permitting telephone interruptions at any time. Allowing unscheduled drop-in clients to appropriate time. Maintaining a continual open-door policy. Participating in long and poorly planned meetings, scheduled or unscheduled. Keeping associates ignorant by failing to share significant information or confusing them with garbled communication.