What are the steps a supervisor or manager should take in analyzing and responding to a grievance? Here is guidance on how to approach an issue that can create problems if not done carefully and thoughtfully.
There is a tool available to agencies that, if used wisely and with some skill, can end an employment relationship in a mutually agreeable manner. This is a negotiated resignation. Here is advice on how to use this tool.
Negotiating changes in an agency during the life of a labor agreement can be time-consuming and expensive. Here are suggestions from an experienced management negotiator about how to cut down the time required to get through this process.
Federal managers who want to make changes for employees represented by a union during the life of a labor contract often feel frustrated by the time, effort and cost involved. Here is advice on how to cut down the time necessary to go through the bargaining process.
What factors are necessary to have a good, effective labor relations program in a federal agency? Here are some criteria.
What steps can a federal agency take to make its labor relations program more effective? Here are suggestions in part two of the two-part series.
What steps can a federal agency take to make its labor relations program more effective? Here are suggestions in part one of a two-part series.
Here are the possible consequences when providing an employee with a guidance and direction memo.
Robert (Bob) J. Gilson has expertise in all aspects of Federal labor and employee relations. He began his Federal career with the U.S. Civil Service Commission.
Bob has held managerial and advocacy positions with Navy, Army, Treasury and the National Transportation Safety Board. He has served as chief negotiator on numerous labor agreements in the U.S. and abroad. He represented his agencies before the FLRA, FSIP, MSPB, EEOC and arbitrators. Bob had principal responsibility for adverse actions regarding conduct and performance at all levels including Senior Executives.
He has trained literally thousands of Federal negotiators, supervisors and managers and has been doing so for over 38 years. He has been writing for Fedsmith for more than 5 years. The recipient of numerous awards, Bob is a frequently invited speaker at national conferences on labor and employee relations. Bob retired from Federal service in 2001 and is currently a senior associate with GRA Inc. Projects included advising managers on bargaining and other labor relations issues. Bob is working on a new series of books for managers and practitioners.
Bob is the author or co-author of eight books for Federal managers. To see some of his current writings, visit the "Federal Manager’s Toolbox" on FedSmith.com.