In the ever-evolving landscape of career mobility, committing to a lifelong career with a single municipal government organization might seem unconventional and unusual. A closer examination of the benefits associated with staying with that employer reveals a host of advantages that contribute to the employee, employer, and the community. Moreover, in an era where discussions about employee retention are pervasive, there exists a compelling parallel that often goes unnoticed: the benefits of committing one’s career to a single city or county.

We have a combined 37 years of service in our respective cities where our careers first blossomed and where we continue to work to this day. In our roles as deputy city managers, we are eager to highlight the wealth of advantages that have naturally emerged due to our service to a single agency over the years.

Deep Community Engagement and Investment

Being a fixture of our cities for as long as we have been, we have established profound and lasting connections with the community and its stakeholders. Our longstanding involvement has allowed us to earn the trust of our community, and our level of familiarity has enabled us to put forth recommendations to the governing body that resonate with our communities’ unique traits and characteristics. For example, knowing that Lakewood residents’ priorities were public safety, recreation programming, and infrastructure maintenance, a recently adopted sales tax measure focused its messaging on those essential items, resulting in the measure’s successful passage.

Local government is often said to be the most trusted level of governance as it is the government closest and most impactful to the people. Taking that further, long-term local government employees are often seen as trusted pillars of the community, having witnessed and contributed to the development and progress of the city over the years. As long-term employees, we have also developed a profound investment in the community beyond “the job.” We are all here to serve the public, but working in one city for our entire local government career has instilled a deep-rooted sense of ownership and responsibility in the community’s success and well-being. Because we can identify systemic issues, we also become catalysts for positive change in our communities.

Institutional Knowledge and Organizational Continuity

Organizations often have a unique history, culture, and institutional memory that cannot be fully understood without spending considerable time within them. Working for a single government agency has allowed us to deeply understand its values, traditions, and history, giving us insight into how the community may react to specific policy decisions. Our tenures are also beneficial concerning projects, as we have seen how much the community has changed over the years and have tailored capital improvement and development projects to the needs and desires of the community. For example, in Indio, California, the residents fully supported the city’s efforts to construct a new state-of-the-art public safety campus for our police and fire personnel.

Additionally, our collective experience has instructional value as we advance for the corps of city officials that will follow us. The long-standing staff member is a mentor, a faithful conduit of organizational tradition, and a potential “early warning” system (i.e., “We tried that once, but it failed badly. Here is why it did.”)

Stable Leadership and Deeper Bonds with Coworkers

Our work colleagues see that our climb up the ladder over the years in one organization fosters a sense of loyalty and validation that they, too, can stay in one place and make it a career. As we have steadily progressed to our current executive-level positions, it also signals to our coworkers that our organizations value familiarity and stability in leadership positions. Longevity also deepens bonds with coworkers. Longstanding work relationships improve productivity, higher levels of trust, better job satisfaction, and overall happiness and well-being.

Given the benefits above, how can an organization foster an environment that encourages employees to remain in one organization? Here are some ideas:

Cultivate a positive organizational culture.

Foster a culture of trust, respect, and open communication where employees feel comfortable expressing their opinions and ideas. Celebrate achievements, milestones, and employee contributions to create a sense of belonging and recognition.

Offer professional development opportunities and advancement milestones.

Allow employees to take on leadership roles, lead projects, or head teams, which gives them a sense of ownership and responsibility within the organization. Establish a clear promotional structure to provide growth opportunities for current employees.

Prioritize work-life balance.

If possible, implement flexible work arrangements or telecommuting options to help employees balance their personal and professional lives. Respect employees’ time off.

Recognize and celebrate long-term employees.

Acknowledge and celebrate anniversaries and achievements of long-term employees to show that the organization appreciates loyalty and dedication.

Foster a sense of ownership and investment by involving employees in decision-making.

Solicit employees’ opinions and involve them in matters directly impacting their work. Consider forming employee advisory groups or committees to encourage collaborative decision-making.

Our similar experiences as long-tenured employees have given us a unique perspective that has broadened over time. Staying in one organization is highly unusual nowadays, as the modern professional landscape encourages career exploration and change. However, committing to a lifelong career within a single municipal government organization offers profound benefits: lasting community relationships, the accumulation of invaluable institutional knowledge, stability, and the creation of a legacy through impactful service. Individuals who opt for this dedicated path in public service find profound satisfaction in the knowledge that their tireless efforts have left an indelible mark on the communities they have faithfully served.

 

SCOTT TRUJILLO is deputy city manager of Indio, California.

 

 

 

 

PAOLO BELTRAN is deputy city manager of Lakewood, California.