ICYMI: Montana Highway Patrol Employees Don’t Trust Austin Knudsen
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, April 1, 2024
CONTACT
gaby@montanademocrats.org
Helena, MT – Montana Highway Patrol employees are not optimistic about Austin Knudsen’s leadership as Attorney General and are not confident about the direction he’s taking the agency.
According to new reporting from the Daily Montanan, a survey of MHP employees was conducted earlier this year and the findings are staggering.
The article reports a highway patrol employee said the survey was initiated in response to low morale and high turnover, stating:
“There’s definitely a lot of low morale, a lack of trust in leadership, the HR (human resources) department, the Attorney General’s Office, all the way,” said the employee. “Ultimately, we work for [him (AG Austin Knudsen]).”
Read more below:
Daily Montanan: Montana Highway Patrol survey shows lack of trust in leadership
By Keila Szpaller
March 29, 2024
Some 45% of survey respondents said they were not optimistic about leadership and the direction of the agency, according to the Organizational Climate Assessment report obtained by the Daily Montanan.
Survey participants also rated “leadership effectiveness” at 6.1 on a scale of one to 10, the report said. The report repeatedly mentions the importance of trust — and perils of a lack of trust for an organization.
A recent report from the Legislative Fiscal Division said the MontanaHighway Patrol and Division of Criminal Investigation are experiencing the highest number of vacancies within the Department of Justice this fiscal year at roughly 61.3% altogether.
The report recommends agency leaders communicate clearly and develop relationships to build trust and support employees. It said 75% of survey respondents believe the current promotional process is “not transparent,” and encouraged practices to “eliminate bias and subjectivity.”
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