3 Public Trust in the Fairness and Neutrality of Government Operations
The government must do more than simply act in a fair and neutral manner if it is to win public trust. It must actively set out to increase public awareness and confidence in the fact that it is acting as such.
A passive attitude is ineffective. Government employees must actively challenge the situation, by explaining the process behind government actions and disclosing information on which the government decisions were based.
4 A Disciplined and Approachable Public Service
Recent scandals have painted a negative impression of government officials. The general public have been led to believe that they are idle for the most part and benefit from corruption. Every effort has been taken to prevent such behavior. Public officials now face the challenge of reconstructing their image as disciplined and hard working employees.
For public policies and procedures to be well received, public confidence in the government employees planning and implementing them is as essential as the contents themselves. To shake off the negative image that they have acquired and regain public trust, public officials must be seen to be more disciplined and hardworking than private company employees.
Government officials have also been criticized for being too high-handed and hard to approach. If public opinion is to be reflected in government administration, an open door policy with one to one communication is extremely important. Public officials must never behave in an arrogant, conceited or selfish manner. They should always be approachable and easy to consult. Government officials must remember at all times that they are there to serve the general public.
