The defense authorization bill near final passage in Congress incorporates provisions of a House bill aimed at DHS’s consistently low standings in the annual federal employee survey and the related rankings of the best and worst places in government to work.
One provision would require the department to set up an “employee engagement steering committee” consisting of representatives from operational components, headquarters and field personnel, and including supervisory and nonsupervisory personnel, and employee unions.
The committee would be tasked with identifying factors that “have a negative impact on employee engagement, morale, and communications within the department, such as perceptions about limitations on career progression, mobility, or development opportunities” as indicated through employee surveys and other means. It is to develop best practices and monitor the compliance of each DHS component in carrying them out.
Other provisions would boost career development programs in the department in general and create a new acquisition career program to include specialized training, mentorship and job rotations.
The bill further would order a GAO review of whether the disciplinary actions that the department takes are consistent between managers and non-managers for similar situations.
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