What I Have Learned About Supervision – Mostly The Hard Way
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.
Employee Relations
Why Do Employees File Discrimination Complaints and Grievances? Advice to Managers and Supervisors
Why do employees file discrimination complaints? Here are some of the most common reasons and suggestions for supervisors that can cut down on the number of complaints.
Bargaining Impact and Implementation: Get the Agreement Right
The author has written extensively on FedSmith about the “ins and outs” of bargaining on the impact and implementation(I and I) of agency management decisions. I and I bargaining occurs with great frequency in the Federal sector and generally results in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the agency and the union. This article covers critical points the agency should consider in putting together an MOU.
Getting a Handle on Leave: 15 Things Every Federal Manager Can Do
Over 75% of disciplinary and adverse action cases in the Federal service involve attendance related issues. If a supervisor or manager is going to deal with an employee problem, it is almost always going to have an attendance component. This article discusses what you can do to prepare yourself to resolve these problems.
Deciding an Adverse Action: What the Manager Must Consider
In this final article in a three part series, the author explores the thought processes and considerations an Agency Deciding Official must use to render a decision and have it sustained on appeal. This framework is drawn from the law as evolved by the Merit Systems Protection Board since it came into existence in 1979.
Handling an Adverse Action Reply Meeting: A Systematic Approach for Deciding Officials
This article deals with the preparation for and conduct of an adverse action reply meeting.
Deciding an Adverse Action: The Process and the Proposal
Deciding whether to take an adverse action is one of the more difficult tasks a Federal manager may perform.
Organizing a Disciplinary or Adverse Action Case
Organizing and structuring discipline and adverse action cases effectively is valuable for many reasons. First and foremost, good organization will help develop the basis for an action and whether or not the Agency should go forward. This article is about the nuts and bolts of putting a case together.
10 Things Every Manager and Supervisor Must Know if the Organization’s Employees are Represented by a Union: Part One
Are You a manager that deals with organized employees? Take this quiz and test your knowledge of labor relations.
Edsels, Hula Hoops and Internal Government Promotions
The culture of government has changed in the past 20 years and these changes have impacted how Uncle Sam selects its higher graded employees. Federal employees in GS grades 12 – 15 used to be selected from within the existing workforce. But, just as the Edsel, the hula hoop. and the “company man” have faded from American life, so has the practice of always using internal promotions to fill higher graded positions.
