President Nominates FLRA Member and General Counsel: Will Federal Unions Picket in Protest?
The President has nominated a couple of DC area locals. The author asks if the unions will oppose these nominees as “ideologues.”
Human Resources
Federal HR news topics include federal employee unions, labor relations, bargaining, pay/leave and benefits.
Form Over Substance: Federal Employee Virtual Suggestion Program Falls Flat
Setting up a program to ensure it is successful means paying attention to details. A program to encourage suggestions from federal employees on how to improve government got considerable publicity. The result: A big yawn from the federal workforce. Perhaps the program sponsors should have told the federal workforce where to send their ideas instead of just extolling the benefits of their new idea for creating a 21st century bureaucracy.
Evidence in Negotiability Cases? The FLRA Greases a Slippery Slope
On remand from a court decision, FLRA was instructed to revisit a record. In a decision blaming the Agency for not rebutting the Union’s lousy evidence, FLRA relies on unsupported emails to decide the case. The author suggests that this case offers the parties an opportunity to dramatically affect future negotiability proceedings.
Telework: Trendy Hot Issue, Long Term Policy Goal or Political Plum?
OPM’s new Director launched a “telework” initiative as his first leap into Federal human resources management. People are wondering, “What the heck is this about?”
A Modest Proposal For Improving Federal Supervision
As someone who teaches seminars relating to Federal performance appraisals, it’s become clear we don’t have a clue how to evaluate/appraise supervisors. It’s just as clear to me that their performance has everything to do with an agency’s success or failure. This article proposes both a starting point and how their performance can be improved.
Eliminating Time-in-Grade Requirements? Not So Fast
A proposed change to eliminate time-in-grade restrictions for federal employee promotions has been delayed again. The delay may signal the end of this proposal designed to expand pay-for-performance into federal employee promotions rather than the strong bias toward seniority.
Paid Leave, Childbirth and Federal Employee Benefits
Some federal employees may get more paid leave when having a new child as a bill to provide more leave is sent to the House for a vote by a committee.
Using (and Misusing) Individual Development Plans
Individual Development Plans (IDP’s) are sometimes misused in an organization. Here are ways you can get the most from your IDP.
Advice for Managers about Weingarten Meetings: Some Options to Consider (Part Two)
In the second of two part article, the author suggests some alternatives to holding investigative interviews under the Federal labor statute. He suggests that the U.S. Supreme Court has provided the basis for more structured and less contentious options for supervisors and managers who are inquiring into misconduct.
Advice for Managers about Weingarten Meetings: Generally Let the Pros Handle ‘Em or Try an Alternate Method
In this two part article, the author reviews investigative interviews under the Federal labor statute; offers advice on conducting such a meeting (including a checklist); and suggests what may be better options for supervisors and managers who are inquiring into misconduct.
