GUEST COLUMN.

As Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, I’ve taken a different approach to leadership. I’ve focused on moving our state not left or right, but forward, by leaving politics at the door. Things like good jobs, health care, safe roads and good schools are nonpartisan issues, and that’s how we’ve treated them.

Another approach I’ve focused on is better supporting the state employees who are working to build brighter futures for the people of Kentucky. Because it takes everyone – working together, feeling motivated and supported – to get good things done. That’s also why we started saying Team Kentucky – because every single person plays an essential role in the work we do, together.

Through that work, we’ve delivered some amazing results. Since I took office, Team Kentucky has celebrated a record number of new jobs and economic investment, with over 63,000 jobs being created and $43 billion in investment. That’s the largest investment amount under any Governor in Kentucky’s history. We’ve also secured record low unemployment, a record number of jobs filled, the four largest budget surpluses in our history and the best three years for tourism.

At the same time, we’ve also expanded health care, lowered our recidivism rate, decreased overdose deaths for three-straight years, delivered clean water, expanded high-speed internet, invested in infrastructure needs like roads and bridges and we’ve made progress rebuilding from deadly natural disasters.

Team Kentucky has proven that it doesn’t have to be either/or when it comes to a thriving economy and quality of life. And I believe that holds true when it comes to team members and the work produced.

As any smart business leader will tell you, a healthy and happy workforce is also a strong and productive workforce. To deliver results, folks need to feel supported both in their work lives and their personal lives.

That means looking at the factors that empower folks to show up to work focused and less stressed because the obstacles they face have been addressed.

Obstacles like child care, unpaid leave, high living costs and a lack of insurance.

When we set out to make state government an employer of choice in Kentucky, we addressed these obstacles head on. Because of that, we accomplished our goal and folks across Team Kentucky are showing up stronger and more ready to serve.

Recently, we announced that we’ll be opening the Team Kentucky Childcare Center next year. This resource will have discounted rates for full-day childcare in the heart of Frankfort, our state capital, where so many state employees work.

By offering childcare, parents can get back to work – while having peace of mind knowing their kids are taken care of. It’s also a benefit when recruiting new team members.

That effort is also supported by our work to make Pre-K For All a reality in Kentucky. We launched this initiative this summer, which aims to make pre-k available to every 4-year-old in Kentucky. It will also boost take-home pay by $9,000 per year for Kentucky parents, strengthen our workforce and save families $7,000 per year in childcare costs.

Our administration is also now offering six weeks of paid leave to Executive Branch employees who have a serious health condition or are welcoming a new child through birth, adoption, or foster care. This leave is granted on the first day of hire and every 10 years after.

We’ve also increased pay for our Executive Branch Employees.

Since I took office, we have secured historic, across-the-board 20 percent  combined salary increases for all eligible employees. And this came after years of no raises at all.

Now we have competitive salaries that make our state workforce stronger, and help folks afford things like rent, groceries and more.

Another core benefit employees depend on is health care – something I believe is a basic human right. By strengthening our employee health benefits, we’re making sure our workforce can access and afford the care they need – when they need it.

That’s why at the beginning of this year, we began offering health insurance coverage on day one for new Executive Branch employees. Taking a new job should be an exciting step for your family, not a cause of stress due to a gap in health coverage.

At a time when health care is under attack on the national level, here in Kentucky, we’re prioritizing it and expanding it. For our people, and our employees.

These are the steps that allowed us to accomplish incredible wins in our commonwealth.  Because of the efforts of every state employee, we’re not looking at our “Old Kentucky Home” anymore. Folks are looking at our “New Kentucky Home” – where business is fast, and the pace of life is just right. And more importantly, good job opportunities and a chance at a good life are available to everyone.

We couldn’t have accomplished this without all of Team Kentucky working together. And that collaboration relies on a solid platform of support to get us here each and every day, ready to deliver results.

As I always say, we’ll get through this together – and that applies to every challenge in work or life.

The contents of this Guest Column are those of the author, and not necessarily Barrett and Greene, Inc. 

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