Supreme Court Hears Oral Argument in Fifth Amendment Suit Challenging Union Organization
On March 22, 2021, the Supreme Court of the United States heard oral argument in Cedar Point Nursery v. Hassid.
NAPA Releases Independent OPM Assessment
The National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) released a study report addressing the Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) responsibilities toward the federal workforce and effectiveness in executing those responsibilities. As the previous administration attempted to merge OPM with other executive personnel offices, Congress directed OPM to contract with NAPA to conduct a comprehensive and independent study of the office’s functions.
FEMA Expands Response to Unaccompanied Children Entering U.S.
Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas directed the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to launch an effort to care for unaccompanied children who are entering the United States from the southern border.
Sunshine Week Hearings and Legislation Promote Government Transparency
Several bills were introduced last week to commemorate Sunshine Week, a national initiative spearheaded by the News Leaders Association to educate the public about the importance of open government.
How to Lead - Top 3 Qualities of a Great Leader and other Leadership Skills
Passion, teamwork, and social skills are three important qualities for leaders to possess in order to be effective. Learn how to bring these qualities into your workplace and put your best foot forward in both your personal and professional life.
The Invitation Powered by White House Leadership Development Program
The White House Leadership Development Program team is excited to invite you to “The Invitation”, a series of 90-minute events that invite feds to think through how they too can be impactful leaders and play a part in good government.
Back to the Basics: Standing for Advocacy
Blacks In Government (BIG) continues to focus on advocacy — that's the most critical thing we want our members and supporters to know in 2021.
The past year has been remarkably difficult for all of us. Added to the misery of a pandemic, it has also exposed continuing inequities in health care, economics, housing, and indeed policing in black communities.
Agencies Must Prove Pre-PIP Unacceptable Performance in Federal Circuit Decision
Before a federal employee can be terminated for unacceptable performance, the employing agency must provide the employee with an opportunity to demonstrate acceptable performance.
NSCAI Issues Final Report on Expanding AI Capabilities in Federal Workforce
The National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence (NSCAI) issued a final report on the AI capabilities of the federal workforce which set a goal for the Department of Defense (DoD) and the intelligence community to be AI-ready by 2025.
OPM Launches Special Combined Federal Campaign for Texas Storm Victims
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) announced in a March 11, 2021 memo that it is launching a thirty day Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) charity giving drive to assist Texans who were impacted by the winter storm in February.
American Rescue Plan Expands Benefits for Federal Workforce
On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package that expands benefits for the federal workforce and Americans.
The Cynefin Framework
The Cynefin Framework can help executives learn new leadership styles and view things from a new and improved perspective. Cynefin is a Welsh word that suggests that multiple factors in our environment influence us in profound and impactful ways.
Protecting Federal Employees – How, When & Why We Need To
The most recent FEDtalk podcast episode explored the various reasons federal employee professional liability exposures have increased over the last few years. Listen in as Tony Vergnetti, the Founder of FEDS Protection, and Brenda Wilson, the Vice President of Programs, explain how the performance of your duties and the integrity with which you perform those duties may not matter if you happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
OPM Instructs Agencies to Restart Union Talks to Reverse Trump-Era Orders
An Office of Personnel Management (OPM) memo dated March 5, 2021 provides instructions on how agencies should reverse course on several Trump-era workforce policies. A number of executive orders were passed in 2018 that specifically restricted union activity and made it easier for federal employees to be fired.
Call for Nominations for FY2021 Presidential Rank Awards
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) announced in a March 3, 2021 memo that it would be opening nominations for the FY2021 Presidential Rank Awards (PRA). The awards program was suspended in 2020 by the prior administration. The PRA is one of the most prestigious awards that can be given to a career civil servant and was established in 1978.
Navigating COVID-19 Safety Practices as a Federal Manager
As the COVID-19 virus continues to spread across the United States, the federal government is instituting safety policies and imposing non-compliance-based discipline on its employees. For instance, as we have previously detailed, the Biden administration established a mask mandate across the federal government. Federal managers have now been tasked with enforcing these new safety protocols, including the mask mandate. Implementing these new practices have created unusual difficulties for federal managers.
Bipartisan Bill Would Revitalize the State Department Workforce
The 2021 State Department Authorization Act (H.R. 1157) is a bipartisan measure that would work to revitalize the Department of State by increasing hiring, retention, and bonuses. The act aims to improve the workforce at the State Department by providing broad guidelines on how to improve the department's foreign service and civil servants.
3.2% Federal Pay Raise Bill Introduced in Senate
Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) formally introduced the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act, which would provide federal workers with a 2.2 percent across-the-board pay increase next year, along with an average 1 percent increase in locality pay. Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) introduced companion legislation in the House in January.