May is Mental Health Awareness Month | Talks at Google
In honor of mental health awareness month, watch these clips of a few individuals discussing the importance of mental health and ways to prioritize it.
A New Push for Scientific Integrity Across Government
Seven days after his inauguration, President Biden issued a memorandum declaring, “It is the policy of my Administration to make evidence-based decisions guided by the best available science and data,” requiring sweeping review and implementation of science-based policies and practices across the executive branch.
#FedLifeHacks: It's Important to Us Too
The Federal Employee Education and Assistance Fund’s (FEEA) priorities are the same as those of Feds, inside and outside of the workplace — our #FedLifeHacks program was launched two years ago to accomplish this mission.
Understanding the Cost of Long Term Care
Planning for your future health care costs can be a daunting task. But a long term care event can happen at any time, and the financial and emotional strain that comes with it can have an impact on you and your loved ones. By educating yourself about long term care now, you’re better prepared to make care choices in the future. One of the most important parts of planning for long term care is figuring out how to pay for it.
Preselection Coupled With Service Discrimination Violates USERRA, Rules Federal Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit described the litigation of a case it adjudicated on May 14, 2021 as “the decade-long journey of a hard-working man who served his country honorably, only to face workplace discrimination on the basis of that service.”
Future of the Federal Financial Management Workforce
Take agile government principles, add strategic foresight, shake with CPAs, and you get a vision from the Chief Financial Officers Council to build a federal financial management (FM) workforce and the “CFO of the Future Now- The 2030 Plan.”
Alarm Raised About Mischaracterization of Enterprise Risk Management
An increasing trend of conflating risk management and enterprise risk management (ERM) in government has drawn the attention of the Association for Federal Enterprise Risk Management (AFERM), whose board of directors issued a warning statement last week.
House Committee Clears Good Government Bills Impacting Feds, Postal Employees
During a business meeting on Thursday, the House Committee on Oversight and Reform advanced six ‘good government’ bills. The legislation includes four federal workforce and government oversight packages and two items specific to the U.S. Postal Service (USPS).
Wanted: Federal Managers with High EQs
In today’s tumultuous political environment, federal managers need to leverage every aspect of their skillset in order to succeed on the job. The issues, questions and challenges facing the federal community and federal managers seem to become more complex, varied, and dynamic by the day. Government agencies and successful companies are increasingly seeking more people with high emotional intelligence (EQ).
New FEMA head on the disasters the organization is managing
Listen to the first female Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Deanne Criswell discuss a number of disasters that she is overseeing in her leadership role. Projects include managing the gas supply disruption, COVID-19 vaccine distribution, immigrants at the southern border, and much more.
Federal Employees Incentivized to Pursue Post-Secondary Education
On May 7, 2021, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) released a memo which announced that federal employees would receive reduced tuition rates at six different university programs if they choose to pursue post-secondary education.
OPM Extends Deadline on Hiring Guidance for Agencies
A May 7, 2021 memo from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) extends the deadline for agency heads to develop agency assessment strategies that rely on more than just educational qualifications and applicant self-assessments when making hiring decisions.
House Democrats Push for TSA Screeners to Receive Title 5 Employment Protections
In a House Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation and Marine Security hearing on May 4, Democrats urged their colleagues to support legislation that would extend Title 5 employment protections to Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screeners.
Tracking Animal Disease Through Veterinary Oversight
As we have previously noted, Federal Veterinarians play a broad role in the inspections of food and health of animals in the United States — and, of course, form the foundation for the National Association of Federal Veterinarians (NAFV). The work they do ensures economic stability within the agricultural industry, but it also goes beyond the agricultural sphere.
President Biden Celebrates Public Service Recognition Week And The Service To America Finalists
ICYMI: Listen in as President Biden thanks public servants for their hard work and commitment to the federal government in honor of Public Service Recognition Week.
2021 Sammies Finalists, New COVID-19 Response Medal Announced
This year’s Sammies finalists were announced on May 2, 2021 by the nonpartisan, nonprofit Partnership for Public Service. A group of 29 exceptional federal employees are finalists to receive Sammies, more formally known as the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals.
House Leadership Calls for Increase in Staff Pay
House leaders are calling for a 20 percent increase in funding for Members’ Representational Allowances (MRAs), committees, and leadership offices to increase staff pay. On April 28, 2021, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and House Democratic Caucus Chair Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) sent a letter to appropriators making the case for the requested increase.
Department of Defense’s management challenges and opportunities
Organizational psychologist Dr. Adam Grant testified before the Senate Committee on Armed Services during a hearing on management challenges and opportunities at the Department of Defense last week. He said, “I also worry that DOD’s culture is a threat to national security.”