Recently, I have been doing some reading on risk management related to public policy. Not too surprising given my recent posts that provide evidence that government control does not mean zero risk, but often higher risk.

One piece that I read yesterday related to government insurance for new loans by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

I used to work on the same street as Freddie Mac’s sprawling campus. During the spring, I made a perceptual observation about Freddie Mac’s capacity for risk management.

In light of “serious” new advocacy for the federal government to back loans by these housing government sponsored enterprises after they are privatized, I offer the following two year old letter that I sent to Freddie Mac’s officer responsible for risk management:

EVP Wisdom,

As you are the Chief Enterprise Risk Officer for Freddie Mac, I write to advise you of a symptom of significant risk to your organization and the public investment in housing GSEs.

April showers have brought a curious bloom of orange and white to Jones Branch Drive. Perhaps you recognize them as the Freddie Mac loaner umbrellas that the company provides to employees walking between buildings on your sprawling campus.

Now here is the point: If your employees can not be counted on to check the weather report in the morning and bring an umbrella to work as needed, how can they effectively manage risk for the company?

By not holding employees responsible for the short term risk of today’s predictable and widely known rain, Freddie Mac handicaps their capacity to plan for the complex and long term risks associated with your business.

These umbrellas are symptoms of a flaw in your corporate culture related to risk management and employee responsibility. I urge you to end the umbrella loaner program with a loud and precise message about the responsibility of each employee for risk management.

Sincerely,

Your Neighbor

When I was last on Jones Branch Drive last summer, this was still an issue.