Federal Supervisors: Are They Ready, Willing and Able to Manage the Workplace?
How widespread is the perception that supervisors in federal agencies are ineffective and what are the implications of this perception for the federal workforce?
Employee Relations
Dealing with Possible Employee Intoxication: Smart Steps for the Supervisor
For a variety of reasons, managers are reluctant to confront a problem of substance abuse in the federal workplace. That is understandable but the problem has to be addressed. Here are steps you can take to begin to address the problem.
“Surfin’ USA” – Accessing the Net at Work and Other Time-Wasting Activities – Are They a Cost or Benefit to Your Agency?
Do you have cyberloafers and cyberslackers in your workplace? Most organizations have some but it is probably a small percentage of the workforce. Some supervisors devise a solution that penalizes the whole group and not just the major offenders. Here is a summary of the most common time wasting activities and suggestions for dealing with the problem.
Dress Codes, Tattoos, and Federal Employees: A Brave New World
An earlier article on dress codes in the federal workplace generated many comments from federal employees. Here is a follow-up article to address some of the issues raised by readers.
Is a Dress Code An Anachronism or Useful Tool in Projecting an Agency’s Image?
Are dress codes an anachronism in federal agencies? Should employees be able to wear plastic flip-flops and tank tops when they come to work? Should agencies care about their public image? Here are several observations from a former federal human resources professional on the subject.
Effective Counseling Meetings Require Careful Planning
If you are a federal manager or supervisor, you will have to learn how to counsel employees about a problem. Most people find that planning such a meeting causes apprehension and, if not done correctly, it can create more problems than it will solve. Here are tips for properly handling such a meeting.
Are You Ready? Federal Managers and Supervisors Should Prepare for Difficult Situations and Events
Federal facilities, employees and leaders have been targets of both the deranged and those seeking to make a point in a variety of ways, some horrible, some banal and everywhere in between. When an emergency occurs in the federal workplace, are you prepared to deal with it? Here is advice that could be useful to anyone and help your colleagues and your federal career.
Federal Leave Policies: Blessing or Curse? Part Three
Supervising and managing employees in the federal work environment is becoming more complex. How do you juggle work and people you rarely see? You may have resources available you do not know about. Here is advice that may help.
Federal Leave Policies: Blessing or Curse? (Part Two)
Supervisors and managers are selected for their understanding and ability of the work not of people nor because they possess supervisory skills. Managing leave in the federal environment would be a challenge for anyone. Here is how “flexibility” can look to a federal manager.
Employee Computer Use: What’s All the Fuss About?
How can a federal employee get in trouble at work using a computer? It isn’t hard to do. Supervisors should also take the time to understand their responsibility on use of computers in the federal working environment.
