The Bureaucrat With David Reed

Transportation Dept. to bring teleworking employees back to offices

The Transportation Department joins a growing number of federal agencies that are seeking to increase in-person work.

9 months ago

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission finally back to full strength

Even with Kotagal’s green light, the agency of 2,000 employees is still without a general counsel.

9 months ago

Lifestyle

The Fed Filmgoer: Early Tom Hanks vehicle ‘Volunteers’ still resonates

“I am obviously not of Peace Corps fiber,” Lawrence (Hanks) says at one point. “It’s not that I can’t help these people, it’s just that I don’t want to.”

Virginia to end degree requirement for state jobs. Can feds follow?

"Skills-based hiring" is gaining popularity as a way to reduce barriers to employment and evaluate candidates based on their competencies.

10 months ago

Federal telework survey: do you want agency remote work to stay?

We want to know how telework decisions affect you and the relationship you have with your public service career.

11 months ago

Federal employees’ return to office is ‘overdue,’ Post editorial says

The White House direct agencies to report their current policies for telework and establish routines to monitor progress and diagnose issues.

12 months ago

March Madness: Governors take battle over new FBI building to the hoop

While the bet has been accepted on Twitter, the General Services Administration has the final say in the ultimate location of the FBI headquarters.

13 months ago

Dear Bureaucrat, We’re trapped under the salary cap!

Employees that are by law unable to get a raise might decide to leave the government, or worse, they might stay as disengaged, disgruntled employees. But there are ways to make them less frustrated by a salary cap.

4 years ago

Dear Bureaucrat, Will a new boss let me improve things?

There are two leadership styles: “transformational” and “transactional.” Here's how to spot them, and what they mean for your job.

4 years ago

Dear Bureaucrat, My subordinates are revolting!

Congratulations! Sounds like you have engaged employees who care about your agency’s mission, though disagree that all decisions from above serve that mission. Here's advice to get their cooperation.

4 years ago

Dear Bureaucrat, I’m frozen on the salary ladder!

Do not assume everything will work out. Take action. Here are four recommended steps.

4 years ago

Dear Bureaucrat, Where is my tribe?

Building a community among people who do the same work as you is valuable, and it can work, but it may take more than one online search.

4 years ago

Dear Bureaucrat, How can I be part of real innovation?

Some officials might make you part of “innovation theater,” encouraging employees to go through the motions of an innovation process, without letting them produce any substantive change. But you can still learn from it ...

4 years ago

Dear Bureaucrat, How can I win arguments against lawyers?

The boss has three reasons to side with the lawyer. Here's how you can overcome the lawyer’s advantages.

5 years ago

Dear Bureaucrat, Do I have to do work I wasn’t hired for?

A federal employment lawyer shares advice for people who work in the public sector.

5 years ago

Dear Bureaucrat, Is a government job worth getting?

Political power shifts. Policies, budgets and personnel change. But there are still some pros to getting a government job.

5 years ago

Dear Bureaucrat, I want to be a crony!

First promise that you will only use cronyism for good ... now here's how to build insider relationships.

5 years ago

Dear Bureaucrat, I want my job to give me rules. Am I crazy?

The good news is, you are not crazy. The bad news is, your employer will probably not start producing written rules. But there are ways you can make up in part for your management’s failure to provide usable procedures.

5 years ago

Dear Bureaucrat, should I worry about my annual evaluation?

Yes, your annual evaluation matters. Here's why ...

5 years ago