By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
If you look at job openings on the City of Great Bend’s website, you’ll
see open positions for the streets department, utilities, police officers,
firefighters and other service positions with public lands. Great Bend Human
Resources Director Randy Keasling is working with city staff to make employment
with the city as a destination career. Over the past three years, city
administration has concentrated on improving workforce culture to make sure the
city is a place people want to work.
Keasling noted getting people to apply can still be a struggle, especially the
last three years since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The baby
boomers, people born in the 1940s to 1960s, are starting to leave a large dent
in the workforce with retirements.
"The boomers are a huge generation," said Keasling. "As those folks retire out of the workforce, the generations that follow them aren't nearly as big. It's leaving a gap, and it's a a concern for employers trying to think of ways to fill those open positions."
Great Bend hired a workforce culture coach from Kansas City years ago to
constantly give staff ideas on what employees are seeking. Keasling said
workforce culture means something different to everyone, and each employee has
value, no matter what their age.
"I think the challenge, for all of us, is to put our individual egos in our back pocket," said Keasling. "Everyone has something to bring to the table no matter where they are in their journey of their career. At the city, that's something we're really learning and trying to understand. Everyone has something to bring, whether that's a 45-plus-year employee or a four-month employee."
You can find a link to open jobs through the City of Great Bend at greatbendks.net.
Listen below to the entire interview with Keasling that aired on "City Edition" on 1590 KVGB & 95.5 FM on March 15, 2023.