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Q&A
Training programs for city employees on corruption prevention
1:24:35
ยท
178 sec
Council Member Brewer inquires about the effectiveness of online training courses for city employees on corruption prevention. Commissioner Strauber discusses the department's approach to both in-person and online training programs.
- DOI conducted 273 in-person and virtual corruption prevention lectures in fiscal year '24, a 44% increase from 2023
- 36,150 city employees completed the online corruption prevention module
- The department emphasizes the importance of tailored, agency-specific training sessions
Gale Brewer
1:24:35
Okay.
1:24:36
The other question I have about the public, as I call it, is we all take I think most of us, we take a I guess it's an online course about whether or not we are learning how to be honest brokers as city employees.
1:24:53
And the question is how many people take it?
1:24:56
Is there any kind of an evaluation about whether it's effective?
1:25:00
You know, I have always known that in today's world it has to be online years ago because I've been working for the government for a very long time.
1:25:08
We had to do it in person and obviously that was much more impactful.
1:25:12
I can't remember a damn thing about whatever you asked when I've taken it recently, to be honest with you.
1:25:17
Well, I try to be an honest person so, you know, I don't tend to break the law.
1:25:23
But, some people do.
1:25:25
So I guess my question is, is it impactful?
1:25:28
Is it the way to go?
1:25:30
I don't know.
1:25:31
Well, first,
Jocelyn E. Strauber
1:25:32
so I wanna I wanna emphasize that that we agree with you that that in person training on these issues that is specifically directed to particular agencies and tailored to their needs and interests is the best way to reach city employees.
1:25:46
And over the past, in for for fiscal year '24, we conducted 273 of those in person and at times virtual corruption prevention lectures.
1:25:58
That was a 44% increase over 2023.
1:26:01
That is not the kind of training you're talking about, which I'll get to in a minute, but I just wanted to emphasize that it is really a critical service that we provide to the city and also a way of making connections to city employees who then see, like, okay.
1:26:15
There is a real person who understands my agency who I can call if I have a complaint or a concern.
1:26:20
So I agree with you that that that kind of more bespoke training is very important.
Gale Brewer
1:26:24
How do people get the in person versus the virtual?
1:26:27
Is it just a request?
1:26:29
You know,
Jocelyn E. Strauber
1:26:29
it it really depends on the agency relationship, the availability of staffing, and certainly the need.
1:26:34
If there is ever a request, we are certainly gonna do it.
1:26:37
We're also doing proactive trainings, but again that depends on the availability of staff, you know, to to do them.
1:26:44
In terms of the the online sort of standard training that that more employees get, 36,150 city employees had, you know, viewed that that that corruption prevention module.
1:27:02
That is down from the numbers in 2023.
1:27:07
We do those that is given, I think, every other year.
1:27:11
It's not an annual requirement, and I don't have sort of precise data on who it's reaching and who it's not reaching.
1:27:17
But but there is a robust process in place to try to get city employees both kind of generally, more globally, sensitized to the important anti corruption issues that they might face or corruption issues that they might face, as well as a more bespoke kind of training.