Unbelievable! You have to read the original request from the Treasury Department (Dept. of Public Debt) https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=3014e950a92dbb0f7e066f9e088a301f&tab=core&tabmode=list&cck=1&au=&ck=
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As published July 9th
Humor In The Workplace
Solicitation Number: RFI-BPD-09-0028
Agency: Department of the Treasury
Office: Bureau of the Public Debt (BPD)
Location: Division of Procurement
Synopsis:
Added: Jul 09, 2009 11:28 am
This is a sources sought notice and not a request for quotations. The
purpose of this announcement is to seek qualified contractors with the
capability to provide presentations for The Department of Treasury,
Bureau of the Public Debt (BPD), Management Meeting with experience in
meeting the objectives as described herein.
The Contractor shall conduct two, 3-hour, Humor in the Workplace programs that will discuss the power of humor in the workplace, the close relationship
between humor and stress, and why humor is one of the most important
ways that we communicate in business and office life. Participants shall experience demonstrations of cartoons being created on the spot. The contractor shall have the ability to create cartoons on the spot about BPD jobs. The presenter shall refrain from using any foul language during the presentation. This is a business environment and we need the presenter to address a business audience.
Upon completion of the course, participants shall be able to:
• Understand the importance and power of humor in the workplace in a responsible manner
• How to use talents in a creative way that adds humor to everyday experiences
• Alleviate stress in home and the office
• Know how and why humor is important to communication
• Improve work-place relationships
• Prevent burn-out
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Commentary - Unbelievable again! The Treasury Department would like to be humorous! They don't need training, they just need to read the newspapers / internet articles. What's the problem? Are they feeling a little down after recent debacles? Welcome to the world of used car salesmen, CPA's and inappropriate priestly actions.
What makes this all the more sad is that they wanted the humor presentation to teach them about cartoons! Good humor is spontaneous. People can learn to tolerate humor, even tell a joke or two, but cartoons are not going to cut it. They also do not want foul language. I understand keeping it clean, however, that eliminates one channel of humor. I will also venture a safe guess that DOT has a code of conduct which prohibits discrimination. There goes another channel of humor. By the way, if their original intent was to make fun of their daily jobs, I belong to a class of people that have always been discriminated against - accountants. So remember, no bean counter, green eye shade jokes because an accountant is going to file a discrimination claim.
Lastly, one of the objectives is to prevent burn out. Come on ... Burn out caused by stress and overwork is not going to be fixed with humorless humor. If the people need a break, give them some time off. Here's an idea. Let's have some layoffs so the government employees can be in with the rest of the private sector. Then they can really have some fun and share a joke or two about the economy.
I give credit to the drudgereport.com for highlighting this issue. To be safe I visited the fedbizopps page to make sure the article was real. Just after I was able to copy the notice, the following appeared:
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Synopsis:
As published July 17th
Humor In The Workplace
Solicitation Number: RFI-BPD-09-0028
Agency: Department of the Treasury
Office: Bureau of the Public Debt (BPD)
Location: Division of Procurement
Added: Jul 17, 2009 9:58 am
Bureau of Public Debt has determined that it no longer has a need for this requirement.
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Hmmmmm ...... maybe someone realized in the Department of Treasury that this was too damn funny and pulled the requirement. Now this is funny. They don't need training - just keep on doing a fine job!
Copyright 2009 Jim Lindell