Employment levels are key indicators of community health, and the coronavirus requires us all to think more creatively about how to maintain employment levels. It appears the museum board missed a chance to be more creative in how it addressed its budget concerns and the employment of the executive director.
For example, why not offer a reduced compensation package? Or set a funding goal with a timeline and then make the decision? The virus will not last forever, and the economic impact of losing employees is so well understood that 27 state governments (unfortunately, not Alaska) have put into place “workshare” plans, which allow employees and employers to enter into a flexible, temporary unemployment arrangement.
The ability to pivot quickly into economic recovery mode is essential to long-term community well-being.
The Haines museum has value to the community and visitors. Now is the time to be creative, work with employees, not against them, and make careful decisions that take into account the temporary nature of the pandemic so we can emerge still intact with what makes Haines special to visitors and community members.
Reed Scott-Schwalbach