IdeaHub to engage DOT employees, tap their expertise

Today, DOT is taking employee engagement and innovation to the next level with our new IdeaHub tool. While this is good for workers here, it's also good for the public. A more effective Department will be better able to fulfill its mission.

IdeaHub is an online community where employees can post ideas for their colleagues to comment and build upon. It's a collaborative website where all of our staff are free to participate. Now, we've got over 55,000 DOTers spread across the country, so an undertaking of this scope--unprecedented among Federal agencies--was not easy.

IdeaHub offers space for one staffer to build on the innovation of another.

With IdeaHub, a Federal Aviation Administration employee in Alaska can offer suggestions about an idea by a Federal Transit Administration worker in Atlanta or vote on an idea by a Federal Highways Administration employee in Arizona.

Once an idea is posted, our employee community can vote it up or down. As ideas attract votes and generate activity and comments, they advance to DOT's IdeaHub liaisons and Innovation Council where they are evaluated and may get put into practice.

I'm already hooked; it's great to see the innovation Team DOT members are suggesting.

IdeaHub also gives us the opportunity to post 'challenges' to our workforce as a way of getting people to think about specific questions or problems. For example, our opening challenge asks: "How can DOT help you do your job more effectively?"

And, believe me, the ideas are already pouring in.

IdeaHub is easy to navigate, too. I took it for a spin myself yesterday!

But IdeaHub is not all fun-and-games. We expect this tool to encourage:

• Budget savings and increased productivity
• Increased engagement and workplace satisfaction
• Greater agility and collaboration within the Department
• Unfiltered information from our front lines

The IdeaHub core team, from left to right: Bethany Blakey, Rhonda Murrill, Carmen Marco, Nancy Mowry, me, Syreta Brooks, Melvin Harris, Deb Green, Marlise Streitmatter, Jenn Gustetic, and Tim Schmidt. Not pictured: Whitney Veit, Steve Gomez, Jolaina Jeff-Cartier, Brodi Fontenot, Joshua Price, James Grayson, and nearly 100 others who helped get this off the ground!

That's why I'm asking our senior executives to visit the site regularly, comment on ideas, and add value to the discussions. I'll be doing the same--I've already bookmarked it to my "Favorites"--and I am looking forward to it.

No one knows better than our staff how to make their work-lives more productive. And IdeaHub offers us a way to tap that knowledge to create a more effective Department--for our employees and for America.

Comments

[Andy]

Here is an idea for you. Instead of having idea hub just for employees include anyone in the world who has an idea. After all why not? Why exclude taxpayers and private enterprise from your idea pool?

[Jim Culp]

Wow, this looks great. What software or service are you using to provide IdeaHub?

[Glenn]

Great job, folks! Keep up the good work and innovation. You're a model to many, including local agencies that are looking for working examples of ideas+technology success!

[Dianne]

Please list the URL of the IdeaHub. I've searched for it and was unable to find it anywhere except referenced in this and various other blogs.
THANKS!

[M.O.B.S.]

Now this, is a Great idea! I worked for a large cooperation that had a very similar program. I can say from my own experience that there were some fantastic time and money saving ideas brought forward by employees. Of course there were always be people that bucked the system, but for the most part it was well received. Some of the changes that were made do to the program saved the company thousands if not millions of dollars. I hope your IdeaHub works as well for you. After all 55,000 minds are better than 1.

[John tunny]

To whom it may concern... I have drove a tractor trailer for 6 years.I have not had an accident,no record of alcohol and drugs,as a matter of fact the Federal Government has said that i passed my threat assessment.Safe Driver all the way.The reason why i am telling you this,is because,J.B.Hunt won't hire me because I had a misdemeanor and spent time on probation for something that isn't even related to driving in any way shape or form.Of course we the people don't have to agree with company policy,BUT,It's far from being right.I'm the guy who takes safety seriously,I'm the guy who You people like to have on the roadway,and I'm the guy who has a large family with no job,and just realized today that being a clean and safe isn't good enough for J.B.Hunt,But it is good enough for the Federal Government.Something is wrong with this picture.To whom it may concern.

[Eddie Baker]

I'm trying to figure out why South Carolina will not put a stop to FARM tag vehicles from hauling for hire??? They pay no heavy vehicle taxes, no IFTA records, so they pay no IFTA taxes. No driver records. Some of the junkiest equipment on our roads. They're supposed to run no more than 7500 miles annually. They run as much as 100,000 miles annually. If the DOT is standing beside the road and 2 trucks, side by side, 1 Farm tag and 1 apportioned tag, they'll pull the apportioned tag every time. This is getting out of control. Now everybody has figured out they can get by with this, friends of farmers are buying a truck and using the farmers name to get a FARM tag. We call the DOT here and once they figure out it is a FARM tag complaint, you never hear from them again. This is an easy problem to catch. Don't they, or, "shouldn't" they, have to report their vehicle mileage annually and be checked up on to make sure these mileages are accurate? Most of these haul grain "FROM" grain dealers. Park an unmarked vehicle close to the grain dealer and observe them leaving with a loaded truck. You can't park a marked DOT vehicle in the driveway and expect to catch them. They know what you are up to. As an owner/operator, I pay a lot of taxes as well as other expenses to stay in compliance. Any body with a drivers license can drive these trucks, some even with no license. No drug tests.... Some with DUIs... PLEASE HELP US OUT HERE?????? I pay around $12,000+ a year for my tags, and they pay around 1,200 for their tag to do the same job I do for a lot less money. The FARM tag is for, farm to 1st market, not for hire. PLEASE HELP.....

[Developer]

@ Dianne - https://www.dotideahub.gov/

@ Jim - IdeaHub is a homegrown social product developed by the FAA web management team in collaboration with DOT. Several commercial (COTS) products were evaluated but none were found to meet the agency's needs at the right cost.

[jon]

I think this is a great idea. It will give the employees on the ground and in the field a chance to give their input and suggestions.

[Michael E. Bailey]

IdeaHub sounds like it will be a teriffic program. Alot of new ideas will come up on how to make the system run smoother, more efficient, and that will be good for everyone. Best wishes, Michael E. Bailey.

[Yancey the BasicEmployeeRights Advocate]

I think the IdeaHub Tool is commendable in its concept. The question, "How can DOT help you do your job more effectively?" and "We expect this tool to encourage:

Budget savings and increased productivity
Increased engagement and workplace satisfaction
Greater agility and collaboration within the Department
Unfiltered information from our front lines"

can and will be easier to attain if one critical ingredient is added to the mix.
What is that ingredient?

Incorporate into the employee engagement process a regiment of training for employee and managers concerning Basic Employee Rights! Unfortunately, this single most important aspect for workplace success is by far the most ignored or neglected.

My research shows workplaces that provide some aspect of Basic Employee Rights awareness and training foster greater mutual respect, productivity and most importantly trust! Employees that have a basic understanding of their workplace rights are more confident and willing to assist management in dealing with potential issues before they become a problem.

Likewise, managers are likely to be more sensitive to cooperate and appreciate rather than lead with an intent to intimidate. Any workplace environment relying on fear and a lack of positive interaction as the main motivator will tend to be a cesspool of hostile work environment, discrimination, harassment and retaliation.

When career seekers and employees go into a workplace knowing little or nothing about their Basic Employee Rights erroneous assumptions of rights invariably lead to mistrust, low morale and productivity. Managers not trained in workplace rights of employees will consequently make employment decisions that lead to violations.

These workplace conditions would be poisonous to any recipe for workplace proficiency and efficiency. I believe the IdeaHub Tool with a component of Basic Employee Rights training would bring about extraordinary results!

[Mobs King]

Thanks for the work and effort in giving us a valuable service. This is really a great work.

[mobsguy]

Thank you very much for taking the time and effort to create new ideas and project that will benefit many people. This is a true public service.

[ffxiv gil]

. If the DOT is standing beside the road and 2 trucks, side by side, 1 Farm tag and 1 apportioned tag, they'll pull the apportioned tag every time. This is getting out of control. Now everybody has figured out they can get by with this, friends of farmers are buying a truck and using the farmers name to get a FARM tag.

[Jane Lilyander]

Many valuable ideas may be missed since DOT contractors are not allowed in Idea Hub.

[johnson]

thanks you very much for writing the post.this is a great work.

[kit]

this is such a great tools for the employees.

[Desparately (Re)seeking the American Dream]

Beware, or should I more appropriately say "take care" of your livelihood commercial drivers. Mine is a story I'm in no way proud of, but it is the too sad truth.
I tested positive on a drug test while renewing my DOT 'health card'. The company I was working for at the time (evidently) thought enough of me to place me in a DOT approved (outpatient) treatment program, with a follow up program (mainly)involving taking a minimum of 6 random tests within the next year. (Yes, I incurred the costs, which, truthfully, are minimal all considered.) I did what was asked and mandated by DOT regulations. All in compliance after 'stumbling' in life a little over two years ago.
As it turns out though, my immediate supervisor used this as leverage to outright do me wrong in most every aspect of the job ( including overstating my vacation available, and lying about when he would pay me an agreed amount). I eventually quit, as there was really no recourse I could justifiably take given the circumstances.
Here's the heart breaker though. I cannot get hired anywhere else with this on my record. It seems as though all measures are in place to essentially zap that heathen driver for his ( maybe even admittedly) bad deed, but the recovery is a facade at best... no 'insurance' company seems to be able to accept even a verified recovered driver.
Make no mistake, I in no way am condoning an illegal lifestyle, etc.: quite the contrary... there is seemingly no way out after being branded! Maybe it's time to look past this setback and look to a pro baseball, football, or actor/ actress job in Hollywood. ( No, I won't mention any official, political, or the like profession, where it may not be a prerequisite, but readily can be swept under the rug. (The media's) Just sayin'!) I'll have to research what this kind of thing does to their market value.
Just such a shame, on both accounts, no doubt!

[Rod McFadden]

The first request for the ideahub url to be somewhere on this page was august of last year.
Well?

[Stock market lesson]

Really nice..... I think this is a great idea. It will give the employees on the ground and in the field a chance to give their input and suggestions.

[Mens Underwear Online]

IdeaHub is a superb tool. I think it is a very effective for DOT employees. Thank you for the right info..

[Adriana Aurela - Casas a la venta]

IdeaHUB is great idea this application gives to tha employees the option to express theirs ideas and simultaneously receive feedback

[Kiwi Bird]

Now this is what is called a true public service. Great job. Expecting more innovations.

[shungit]

Thank you very much for taking the time and effort to create new ideas and project that will benefit many people. This is a true public service.

[Copywriter]

It's great to see companies making their organizations more and more democratic these days. It will certainly add value to the employees existance in the company. It'll stregthen the sense of belongingness towards to the company.