Report on April 1999 Human Resources Council Meeting Date: Fri, 04 Jun 1999 13:21:54 -0400 To: "USGS Employees" From: Janis Nash Subject: Report on April 1999 Human Resources Council Meeting MEMORANDUM To: All Employees From: Robert Hosenfeld Chair, Human Resources Council Subject: Report on April 1999 Human Resources Council Meeting The USGS Human Resources Council (HRC) held its quarterly meeting April 27-29, 1999, in Reston, Virginia. The HRC, which addresses important human resources issues that affect USGS employees nationwide, consists of senior managers representing all USGS divisions and regions. At its April meeting, the HRC reviewed progress on the following FY 1999 actions under the Strategic Human Resources Plan. Flexiplace. A draft proposal for implementing Flexiplace in the USGS and a draft USGS Flexiplace Handbook were sent to the divisions for comment on December 11, 1998. Comments have been incorporated, and a revised Flexiplace policy and handbook were sent to the Operations Council, Human Resources Council, and Information Council for final review. The Flexiplace policy is on the agenda for discussion at the June 16 Operations Council meeting. Once the policy and handbook have been approved by the Operations Council, Flexiplace will be implemented. Implementation in bargaining units may require impact negotiations. USGS Leadership Development Program. Design of a one-week USGS Leadership course has been completed. Two sessions of the course will be conducted in 1999, one in early June and one in early October. The course was announced in mid-April, and 24 participants have been selected for each session. Under the USGS Strategic Plan, the HRC is also responsible for designing a USGS Leadership Development Program. At the April meeting, the HRC met with experts on leadership development from two outside organizations to benchmark effective leadership development programs. Mentorship Program. The USGS issued a Request for Proposals for consulting services to assist the USGS in developing and implementing a bureauwide mentorship program. A number of proposals were received and evaluated, and a contract has been signed. It is expected that design of the program will be completed by December 1999. Orientation Program. A multidivision team is preparing a three-module Orientation program for USGS employees that includes information on the USGS, the four divisions and OPS, and human resources management. The USGS, WRD, NMD, OPS and human resources modules of the program have been completed, and work is underway on the BRD and GD modules. Bureauwide implementation is expected to begin by the Fall 1999. Bureau Outreach Recruitment Program. In an effort to coordinate recruitment efforts and expand applicant pools across the USGS, the USGS established seven recruitment teams representing all divisions nationwide. Each team has selected two to four academic institutions with which to establish long-term relationships, and the teams are now making campus visits, meeting with university officials, and attending career fairs. The outreach recruitment teams will meet with the HRC at its July meeting to discuss how the program is operating and steps that can be taken to improve it. Organizational Assessment Survey. The HRC will administer an employee survey, called the Organizational Assessment Survey, to get feedback from employees concerning a wide range of work-related issues, including communication, fairness, rewards and recognition, training, leadership, supervision, teamwork, work environment, and work and family life. The results of the survey will be used to identify issues that need to be addressed and track progress in addressing those issues. It is expected that the survey will be sent to all employees in June 1999, once comments have been received from labor organizations. An email explaining the purpose of the survey and how the results will be used will be sent to employees in advance. After survey results have been analyzed, feedback on the results of the survey will be provided to all employees. Rewards System. Under the USGS Strategic Plan, the HRC is responsible for implementing a rewards system that reinforces the USGS strategic direction and promotes consistent application of rewards across the bureau. The HRC is gathering information on rewards issues from a variety of sources, including employee responses to the Organizational Assessment Survey, to identify rewards issues facing the USGS and develop a bureauwide strategy for dealing with those issues. Training Management System. A multidivision team has identified requirements for a USGS Training Management System that will be used to obtain approval for training, register students for training with vendors, obligate funds, track training and other developmental experiences, and report training information. A Request for Proposals will be issued to allow internal and external organizations to submit proposals for design of the system. If you have any questions concerning the HRC actions described above, please send an email message to your division or region HRC member, whose name is listed below: Janet Bishop, Office of Program Support, Central Region Wendy Budd, National Mapping Division, Headquarters Kaye Cook, Bureau Equal Opportunity Officer, Headquarters Tom Fouch, Geologic Division, Central Region Bob Hosenfeld, Bureau Personnel Officer, Headquarters Anne Kinsinger, Office of the Director, Headquarters Larry Ludke, Biological Resources Division, Central Region Wanda Meeks, Water Resources Division, Southeastern Region Alan Mikuni, National Mapping Division, Western Region