Stay informed on employee relations issues affecting federal employees, including workplace conduct rules, performance management, disciplinary actions, adverse actions, and HR policies that shape day‑to‑day federal employment. Explore updates on OPM guidance, MSPB decisions, labor‑management disputes, probationary employee rules, and best practices for handling workplace conflicts. Find clear explanations and timely analysis to help federal employees and supervisors understand the policies, rights, and procedures that govern employee relations across federal agencies.
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.
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.
An MSPB report explains how the GS pay system was designed as a type of pay-for-performance system.
With an executive order on Federal labor relations from the new administration expected very soon, the author examines what happened in the Clinton administration and suggests that Interest Based Bargaining or any other mandated negotiating process may be doomed from the outset if prior lessons go unheeded.
The MSPB issued a study urging agencies to involve employees early and often in decisions involving their work.
How do you deal with “Cants” in the federal government? These are people who are not necessarily devious, lazy or malevolent but they are incompetent and cannot do all of what they are being paid to do–but may still cost $100,000 a year or more in salary and overhead. Here are tips for agencies on where to begin.
Being a federal supervisor is a tough job and getting harder. It can also be rewarding. Their behavior and performance are a major factor in an organization’s performance and employees’ decision to stay or leave an agency. Here are comments and suggestions on why the job is difficult and qualities needed to be a success.
Being a good supervisor is difficult and can be a thankless job. This is a continuation of the author’s article on attributes of a good supervisor based on personal experience as a federal employee and a supervisor and considerable research on the subject.
As a management advisor, the author reviews expiring labor agreements to help an agency prepare for a renegotiation. This article is the first of two providing tips on what to look for in an expired or expiring agreement. You should also find it useful if you are bargaining an initial contract.
What are the most valuable supervisory qualities for a federal supervisor? Here is one list of qualities–most of them learned through the school of hard knocks.
