Hundreds of employees packed into the Ruth Seaton James Auditorium for a pep talk from Labour Minister David Burch.

Sen. Burch gave advice over the importance of working hard through the current workforce and economic challenges, to staff from the departments of Immigration, Labour and Training, Corrections, Police, Fire, Regiment and Bermuda Housing Corporation.

According to a Ministry press release, Sen. Burch stressed it was critical that staff do not become complacent in servicing their clients — the people.

He told the gathering last week: "The key to surviving the economic challenges that we currently find ourselves in is going to be a constant challenge but we can bear results if we buckle down to the fight. Look around within your department and look for areas of slackness and how we can tighten our operations.

"Today is a day of change. We cannot sit down and dream of yesteryear and the good life we lived through. We are going to have to get creative and implement changes in our professional and personal lives that will see us survive these difficult economic times.

"What I want to share with you today is a challenge, a challenge to raise the bar in your corner of the Civil Service. It is our collective goal to have a community that is satisfied that all services within the Ministry make an effective contribution to Bermuda."

Explaining the significance of the meeting, Sen. Burch added in the press statement: "It was an opportunity for members of the Ministry to hear our focus directly and unfiltered. I was very pleased with the turn-out as it was the first of its kind, and this type of open dialogue forum is something that we will look to continue in the future."