USGS Human Resources Council From: "Janis C Nash, Reston, VA" (Janis Nash) Message-Id: <970516140330.ZM21159@jnash> Date: Fri, 16 May 1997 14:03:29 -0400 X-Mailer: Z-Mail 4.0.1 (4.0.1 Apr 9 1996) To: "USGS Employees" Subject: USGS Human Resources Council Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Memorandum To: All Employees From: William E. Fordyce Acting Personnel Officer Subject: USGS Human Resources Council As Chair of the newly-established USGS Human Resources Council (HRC), I want to introduce you to the HRC and report on our first two meetings. The HRC, which reports to the Operations Council, was chartered by the Policy Council in response to a recommendation of the Benchmark Team on Rewards, which saw a need for a group of senior managers to meet on a recurring basis to identify and address important human resources issues. Recognizing that the HRC will deal with issues affecting USGS employees nationwide, the Policy Council chartered the HRC and appointed HRC members to represent all USGS divisions and regions. In addition to the Acting Personnel Officer, who serves as HRC chair, HRC members include: Wendy Budd, National Mapping Division (NMD), Headquarters Tom Casadevall, Office of the Director (OD), Western Region Kaye Cook, Bureau Equal Employment Opportunity Officer, Headquarters Tom Fouch, Geologic Division (GD), Central Region George Hargrove, Office of Program Support (OPS), Western Region Sue Haseltine, Biological Resources Division (BRD), Eastern Region Wanda Meeks, Water Resources Division (WRD), Southeastern Region Janis Nash of the Human Resources Office provides staff support to the HRC. The HRC provides a forum for discussion and timely decisionmaking related to mission-oriented human resources practices and initiatives. On behalf of all members of the USGS, the HRC will establish the goals and priorities of the human resources program and identify, evaluate, and implement bureauwide strategies and actions to improve the USGS work environment, career development opportunities, and human resources management practices. The HRC will focus on the strategic goals of the bureau and foster a positive, progressive work environment which is in concert with the USGS mission and vision. The HRC began its work by setting priorities and assigning responsibility for accomplishing the human resources actions contained in the Strategic Plan and those recommended by the Rewards Team. First-year priorities include strategic staffing goals for the USGS, an orientation program for all employees, an on-line USGS Employee Handbook, and a USGS leadership development program. In addition to setting priorities for existing human resources recommendations, we recognize that new human resources issues and concerns will be raised from time to time, and for this reason, we have developed criteria for determining the types of issues for which the HRC is the appropriate forum. Issues addressed by the HRC should: be aligned with the USGS Strategic Plan; have a bureauwide financial, programmatic, and workforce impact; reinforce USGS values of trust, openness, and communication; represent an improvement in an existing process and add value to the overall human resources management program; promote equity and fairness across the USGS; encourage the use of common business practices throughout the USGS; and provide the basis for a decision and the accomplishment of results. These criteria were used by the HRC in setting its first-year priorities, and the HRC will use these same criteria to determine which new human resources issues to address and to set priorities for dealing with new issues. We look forward to frequent communication with you about HRC meetings, actions, and progress. We have attached a short notice that reports results from our recently-concluded second meeting. We plan to use this format to communicate with you after each meeting. In addition, if you have any questions concerning the HRC or if you would like to submit a human resources issue for consideration by the HRC, please send an email message to your division or region HRC representative. Attachment USGS Human Resources Council News The USGS Human Resources Council (HRC) held its second quarterly meeting April 29 - May 1, 1997, in Reston, Virginia. The HRC discussed the human resources issues below and provides the following status report: 1. Awards Program. The Bureau Incentive Awards Committee has developed a Manual for Nominating and Processing Awards, which is now undergoing review. The manual will be available in hard copy and on the intranet on the OPS/Human Resources Office home page. Target date for completion is Summer 1997. 2. Alternate Work Schedules (AWS). The HRC will prepare a policy statement delegating authority for AWS implementation to the divisions. Policy must be approved by the Director's Office. Target date for delegation to the divisions is late Spring 1997. 3. Orientation Program. A multidivision team is preparing an Orientation course for USGS employees. The program includes modules on the USGS, the divisions, and human resources management. The program will be piloted in Lakewood in the Fall 1997, with final completion of materials anticipated in the Winter 1997-98. 4. USGS Employee Handbook. A multidivision team is preparing an on-line employee handbook for USGS employees. The handbook will provide information on a variety of human resources topics and will contain links to references that provide more detailed discussion. 5. Court Testimony. The HRC is preparing a document for the Policy Council regarding the need for a consistent policy regarding the role of scientists in responding to legal proceedings and providing expert testimony. 6. Women's Executive Leadership (WEL) Program. The HRC has been delegated oversight responsibility for the 1997-98 WEL Program. The HRC decided that each WEL participant's division will be responsible for managing the funds provided for WEL training and developmental assignments. Wendy Budd will serve as the sponsor for the program and will be responsible for guiding the selection panel process. 7. Consistency in Human Resources Practices. The HRC has begun examination of issues related to fairness and equity in human resources practices, including position classification and awards. The HRC will charter an ad hoc group from across the bureau to define issues regarding classification and to make recommendations to clarify responsibilities of classifiers and managers. 8. Strategic Staffing Goals. The HRC will begin working on the issue of strategic staffing goals by determining the Policy Council's needs and external requirements for strategic staffing goals, identifying what is currently being done within and outside the USGS on strategic staffing, and benchmarking strategic staffing in other organizations. 9. Leadership Development. The HRC decided that leadership development in the USGS should have a bureauwide perspective with a common presentation and discussion of organizational values. The HRC will compile information regarding existing division leadership training, benchmark innovative leadership development in other organizations, and develop a bureauwide approach to leadership development. Attendance: Wendy Budd, Tom Casadevall, Kaye Cook, Bill Fordyce, Tom Fouch, George Hargrove, Wanda Meeks, Janis Nash, Kathy Rutledge. Karen Kretlow, recorder.