Understanding what motivates public service employees may influence how community leaders recruit, train, retain, and inspire staff to elevate performance, retention, and morale while reducing human resource costs.

University of Illinois Extension is sponsoring a free online webinar, Public Service Motivation, as part of its Local Government Education webinar series. The webinar will cover the theory and research on public service motivation that accounts for employee performance, human resource actions, and professional development. This webinar will also cover the implications of organization commitment, person-organization fit, and prior military service. 

The free, online webinar begins at noon Aug. 6. Register online. A reasonable participation accommodation request may be made by contacting Nancy Ouedraogo (esarey@illinois.edu) as early as possible to allow time to meet individual requests. 

Robert Elliott, presenter, was a career Illinois public servant with extensive experience across public safety, higher education, military, and emergency management fields. He obtained his doctorate in public administration from University of Illinois at Springfield. His research involved determining the relationship between public service motivation and employee performance behaviors in a large Midwestern police agency. Ellliot is co-founder of ERA Solutions Group, LLC. 

“Public service motivation is key to helping the public sector recruit, retain, and motivate employees who are capable of understanding, accepting, and delivering services that are not only effective and efficient, but are also equitable and of widespread value to the public,” says Ouedraogo, Extension community and economic development specialist. Ouedraogo manages Extension’s government webinars and is currently studying for a professional doctorate in public administration.

Illinois Extension leads public outreach for University of Illinois by translating research into action plans that allow Illinois families, businesses, and community leaders to solve problems, make informed decisions, and adapt to changes and opportunities.