“Where would you look for an after-hours phone no. for a gov't. agency?”
This was the question presented to readers in a recent survey, after I looked on an agency’s website and found only the telephone numbers during normal business hours. That particular agency is an on-call agency that would receive law enforcement or hospital requests 24/7. Obviously, they would know how to reach that office after-hours.
But what about when members of the public need to reach that office? Like, important or urgent matters that, on a Friday night at 5:30PM, can't wait until Monday?
The responses to the survey were:
Agency’s webpage - 20 (69%)
Online phone directory - 6 (21%)
Blue pages of phone book – 3 (10%)
Thanks to the 29 readers who participated in this survey.
You never know who is interested…
3 months ago
2 comments:
Well, I'm guessing that if it's law enforcement or the hospital calling, then it's not *really* urgent.
That is to say, if it were really urgent, you'd be dealing with the police or the hospital FIRST, and then they would make the arrangements.
Anything else will have to wait, I guess...
Perhaps, just perhaps, they trust that law enforcement or the hospital can be their "gatekeepers" after hours so they don't have to 1) staff their offices 24/7 or 2) have their staff disturbed at all hours by somebody who coulda, shoulda, mighta called during normal business hours but for the fact that they decided, after much thought and perhaps being fortified with alcohol that that their problem - which may have existed for several days, months or years - must now be addressed immediately.
Post a Comment