Recognizing government employees during Public Service Recognition Week Government employees deserve more recognition than they typically receive. Public Service Recognition Week is the perfect time to honor those who have dedicated their careers to public service. Take a look at some of the ways that agencies across the country are recognizing their employees. Read More
Four ways to make this year’s Public Service Recognition Week stand out This year’s Public Service Recognition Week comes in the wake of the 35-day partial government shutdown that lasted from December 2018 into January 2019. That’s why it’s important to celebrate PSRW next week and make your employees feel valued. Read More
Your employees probably don’t realize what you have done to engage them Most of the time, agency leaders listen to and act on the feedback provided in the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey—but the workforce doesn’t know it. The disconnect between what employees say in the survey and what the leaders do in response can drive a wedge between the workforce and agency leadership. To bridge that divide requires a change in communication. Read More
Recognition for outstanding federal workers should be the norm Last week, the 2019 Gears of Government Hall of Winners were announced, honoring more than 150 individuals and teams, from more than 20 federal agencies, who have improved the lives of others or made our government better. This type of recognition should be the norm because it encourages high performers to get even better, take on bigger challenges and learn best practices from one another. Read More
How to make Employee Appreciation Day last all year Employee Appreciation Day is a great opportunity to recognize your staff’s hard work and dedication. But appreciation should never be confined to just one day. Here are some tips for preserving the spirit of Employee Appreciation Day and making your employees feel valued throughout the year. Read More
Four tips to make employee engagement a year-round priority Employee engagement can feel like a vicious cycle, one where agencies can struggle to make progress. In our new “Engage Against the Machine” column, we will offer best practices for changing your organization’s culture and maintaining employee satisfaction, even during challenging times. Read More
How the Peace Corps is welcoming back employees after the lapse in appropriations Traci DiMartini, the Peace Corps’ chief human capital officer, shares her agency’s tips on the best ways to welcome employees back to work following the partial government shutdown. Read More
10 steps agency leaders can take to re-engage federal employees when they return to work It is critical for agency leaders to connect with their employees, to remind them of the importance of the mission, the critical nature of their work and the value they have to the organization and our country. Here are 10 ways federal leaders can repair the damage done by the partial shutdown and create a positive and productive work environment. Read More
Feds serving the public and each other Parimal Kopardekar, a furloughed federal employee at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California, felt detached from his colleagues during the partial government shutdown, so he launched a support group on Facebook for feds to share coping strategies and support one another. The group now has more than 1,000 members. Read More
How leaders can prepare for federal employees to return to work after the shutdown Sally Jewell, former secretary of the Department of the Interior during the 2013 shutdown, offers her advice about how to mitigate a drop in workforce morale when employees return to work after the current partial government shutdown ends. Read More
