Defense Secretary Ashton Carter recently announced a freeze on civilian hiring. The author says that there is still more consolidation that can be done inside of the Department of Defense and that the Defense Logistics Agency is a prime example of an efficient agency that could handle more duties and responsibilities within DoD.
The author says that the term “bureaucrat” is one of those words that can be used as a slur, an epithet, and/or an insult, but it can also be used to praise someone who understands how government works and uses that knowledge to make it work better. Bearing the latter use in mind, he has made a list of ways federal employees can test to see if they are true “bureaucrats.”
The author says that many federal workers do not feel safe speaking honestly with their supervisors and agency leaders. He discusses why this is a problem and how the federal workplace could be improved if supervisors and their employees would communicate more openly.
The author says that when the Metro system shut down in Washington, DC this week, OPM was faced with a difficult, and ultimately thankless, decision. He says the agency made the right call and examines the various options OPM was faced with and why he believes it was the right choice.
The author says that while the government is making progress, it needs to address the fundamental problems that are preventing it from fully utilizing modern technology. He discusses some of the barriers in place from keeping the government from moving into the 21st century.
The author notes that the numbers of young federal employees are dropping while the overall federal workforce is aging.
The author notes that turnover in agency Chief positions is high. He looks at the roles that some of these leadership positions play in fulfilling an agency’s mission and also asks the question, “Would you have to be crazy to take one of these jobs?”
Who runs a federal agency: the agency head or the inspector general? The author discusses the role of inspectors general (IGs) in agency operations and when (or not) an agency might be wise to follow the recommendations from an IG.
The author discusses the recently proposed Administrative Leave Act of 2016 and what it potentially means for federal employees. He says the legislation is a solid proposal that could help fix a challenging situation facing HR managers within the federal community.
The author says that phased retirement was a program designed to help federal employees ease into retirement while also helping agencies get their replacements up to speed. However, the program has largely been a bust so far in terms of its participation levels. He explains why he believes this to be the case.
