FedUpward Podcast - Tips for Federal Government Employees – Details, episodes & analysis

John Hatton, Staff Vice President of Policy and Programs at the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE) joined me on the podcast to discuss what NARFE is, does and how it can help you. He also discussed the ups and downs of this year's FEHB open season.

https://www.narfe.org/membership-who-can-join/?utm_source=7M6&utm_campaign=NARFE_GoogleAds_Join_Search_09262023&gad_source=1 

Kevin Moss of Consumers'Checkbook is on the show to talk about the major changes in health insurance options. It's open season, y'all! Even if you love your plan, shop around.  Open Season ends on December 9th. 

His organization offers an amazing calculator that can help you make the best choice for your family. Listeners of the podcast get a discount using the code FedUpward to get 20% this already well-priced tool!

Find the calculator here.

Raymond Limon, vice chair of the Merit Systems Protection Board (MPSB) joined me on the show to discuss what the MPSB is, what it does and why it matters. If you havent' taken training on this recently, tune in for a refresher.

He also surprised me  by administering the oath of office as a way to celebrate my new federal job! 

https://www.mspb.gov/

If you need a refresher on the merit systems principles and prohibited practices:

Find merit systems principles here.

Find prohibited practices here.

And if you REALLY want to dig in, check out Biography of an Ideal: the Hstory of the Federal Civil Serivce.

https://dml.armywarcollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/OPM-Biography-of-an-Ideal-History-of-Civil-Service-2003.pdf

It's Public Service Recognition Week (PSRW), y'all!! To honor amazing feds, the Partnership for Public Service awards the Service to America Medals (Sammies) to deserving public servants working to better the nation everyday. Listen to my interview with 2021 Sammies finalist Mary Gibert from the General Services Administration. She discusses the work she did to prepare the Trump and Biden teams for transition activities, and gives advice for new feds.

It's Public Service Recognition Week (PSRW), y'all!! To honor amazing feds, the Partnership for Public Service awards the Service to America Medals (Sammies) to deserving public servants working to better the nation everyday. Listen to my interview with 2021 Sammies finalist Mary Frances Matthews of Veterans Affairs. She discusses the work she does, and gives advice for new feds.

https://servicetoamericamedals.org/honorees/kenneth-graham/

On Wednesday, May 5, at 12:30 p.m. EDT, the Partnership and Axos will air a virtual event to recognize the 2021 Service to America Medal finalists. Click here to head to Axios.com.

It's Public Service Recognition Week (PSRW), y'all!! To honor amazing feds, the Partnership for Public Service awards the Service to America Medals (Sammies) to deserving public servants working to better the nation everyday. Listen to my interview with 2021 Sammies finalist Kenneth Graham of the National Hurricane Center. He discusses the work he does, and dishes advice for new feds.

https://servicetoamericamedals.org/honorees/kenneth-graham/

On Wednesday, May 5, at 12:30 p.m. EDT, the Partnership and Axos will air a virtual event to recognize the 2021 Service to America Medal finalists. Click here to head to Axios.com.

Dr. Theresa Horne - Army veteran, former federal civilian employee, leader, coach, talent management professional - explains how you can get started with a succession plan and what diversity, equity and inclusion factors to consider moving forward. She offers strategies and resources to help you start thinking about how to set your team up for success as it grows and changes.

Dr. Horne will speak to these issues and more at the ATD Government Workforce conference May 25-27, 2021. Learn more and register for the event at the link below.

https://governmentworkforce.td.org/speakers

The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the largest federal employee union, recently fought to bring union representation back into EPA's physical spaces. Spoiler alert: they won. On the show to talk about recent events and what unions do, is steward Brian Kelly. Find Brian Kelly @AFGE704_EPA

To read more about the agreement between EPA and AFGE, visit EPA Workers' Rights Restored

To learn about becoming a union member or how to organize your workplace, visit AFGE National

afge.org/member-benefits/join/

twitter.com/AFGENational

facebook.com/afgeunion

youtube.com/user/afgeonline

We've worked remotely for over a year now and it's obvious that some level of telework will continue. Enter Alexis Gerst. She's an Air Force officer who saw a need and filled it. Her book, "Leading Remote Teams," chronicles her experience working through the pandemic shifts, bridging generational divides, and keeping her team engaged. Tap into the lessons she learned in this podcast. 

Connect with her here:

www.alexisgerst.com

Her book hits Amazon April 13th, 2021.

Do you know your rights as a supervisor and an employee after the recent court ruling on performance improvement plans (the Santos v. NASA case)? Deborah Hopkins, president of the Federal Employee Law Training Group, covers what you need to know about the decision ,and about performance management in general. 

https://feltg.com/

https://www.govexec.com/workforce/2021/03/landmark-ruling-court-raises-threshold-firing-feds/172797/