FedUpward Podcast - Tips for Federal Government Employees

On Oct 21, 2020, President Trump issued an Executive Order on Creating Schedule F in the Excepted Service. As a federal employee, you should understand the implications of this order. First, read the order for yourself here:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/executive-order-creating-schedule-f-excepted-service/#:~:text=Schedule%20F.,be%20listed%20in%20Schedule%20F.

Shawn Skelly joined me to discuss the concerns fed watchers have about the order and why you should care. She served on the e Military Service, National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service. She's a Navy veteran and served in the Department of Transportation and Department of Defense as a political appointee in senior executive service.Few have the public service shops Shawn has and she literally advised Congress on how to handle the future of civil service. 

In the interview, we mentioned statements issued by a few organizations you should be familiar with. Here are those statements:

https://ourpublicservice.org/publications/partnership-for-public-service-statement-on-schedule-f-executive-order/

https://www.afge.org/publication/trump-administrations-order-to-expand-excepted-service-opens-door-to-political-cronyism-largest-federal-employee-union-says/

https://www.govexec.com/management/2020/10/stunning-executive-order-would-politicize-civil-service/169479/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-federal-civil-service/2020/10/23/02fbf05c-1549-11eb-ba42-ec6a580836ed_story.html

IN the federal government bureaucracy, one thing is for certain - ideas get recycled ALL THE TIME. If you're given a research project, fear not. You can absolutely leverage the work of others. I'm going to explore the work of other people over the course of the next few episodes. In this episode, you'll learn the basics of the Congressional Research Service and the Congressional Budget Office. They produce TONS of reports and products you can leverage to save time and give you great overviews of just about any topic you can imagine.

Here are their websites:

https://www.cbo.gov/

https://crsreports.congress.gov/

A few weeks ago, I saw a Tweet about a website called Cloture.app for tracking hearings held by congressional committees. Y'all - you NEED to check out this tool. It scrapes data from committee websites and compiles it all in one site that's set up as a calendar. It's easy to use and free thanks to journalist Harrison Cramer of the National Journal. During my interview with him, he ran through why he created the site and how he built it. Federal employees can absolutely take advantage of this free resource.

Find the tool here:

https://www.cloture.app/

Learn more about Harrison Cramer's efforts here:

https://www.cloture.app/about

or find him on Twitter @HarrisonCramer

October is LBGTQ history month and October 11th is National Coming Out Day. To recognize the contributions of LGBTQ feds and understand how inclusivity fosters a more productive environment, listen to my interview with Out in National Security's Luke Schleusener and head to Out in National Security's website here: https://www.outinnationalsecurity.org/ Other helpful links Luke recommended: GBT History Month National Coming Out Day GLAAD Workplace Resources GLAAD Co-Workers & Allies HRC Workplace Resources Out & Equal Pronouns and Gender Identity.

If reading a USAJOBS vacancy announcement leaves you frustrated, you're not alone. Adele Dantzler of Dantzler Career Solutions walks us through the most important parts of the announcement and how to respond to get through the initial phases of the selection process.

She has lots more to offer on her website here:

https://www.dcslearn.com/blog/

Heard about the Sammies?

The Sammies, or Service to America Medals, known as the "Oscars" of government service, are a highly respected honor with a rigorous selection process. Named for the Partnership for Public Service's late founder who was inspired by President Kennedy's call to serve in 1963, these awards align with his vision of a dynamic and innovative federal workforce that meets the needs of the American people. This year's presenters include Samantha Bee and Kristin Bell.

The Partnership is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization whose mission is to help make our government more effective, and the Sammies honorees represent the many exceptional federal workers who are doing just that—breaking down barriers, overcoming huge challenges and getting results. Whether they're defending the homeland, protecting the environment, ensuring public safety, making scientific and medical discoveries, or responding to natural and man-made disasters, these men and women put service before self and make a lasting difference.

Samuel J. Heyman believed that "the future of our nation quite simply depends on the quality of our government." The Sammies are the Partnership's way of showing the world the many ways our government is making our country better, safer and stronger.

You can register to stream the event on October 5th here:

https://servicetoamericamedals.org/

Info about all the Partnerships' programs can be found here: https://ourpublicservice.org/

To donate, click here:

https://ourpublicservice.org/donate/

The Federal Employee Paid Leave Act becomes real this week but most of our agencies and departments haven't published implementing guidance and many of us don't know the key provisions of the law. Enter Government Worker (aka a fed just like us who wishes to keep his name out of the media). He publishes a blog about living frugally as a fed that you should DEFINITELY check out.

Here are two links discussed in the episode:

https://governmentworkerfi.com/parental-leave-for-federal-employees/

https://governmentworkerfi.com/fers-retirement-compensation/

And here's the Dept of State's guidance (available online) - click the link and scroll down to paid parental leave:

https://fam.state.gov/FAM/03FAM/03FAM3530.html#M3535_3

The Leadership Council for Women in National Security improves national security by ensuring that women, in all their diversity, have equal space at the policy-making table. LCWINS is an organization of women and allies from across the political spectrum working to advance gender inclusion at the highest levels of the U.S. national security and foreign policy workforce.

Gina talks us through the LCWINS mission and how you can get involved as a senior leader OR a future senior leader in national security.

https://www.lcwins.org/

Confused about the payroll tax deferral? Don't understand how FERS retirement works? Need explanations about TSP match and life insurance? Meet Brian.

Brian Sigwart is a Certified financial planner with Cummins and Associates Financial Group. He focuses his practice on educating federal employees how their benefits work. He has been providing financial wellness classes for over a decade at over 25 federal agencies in the DELMARVA area.

https://www.caafg.com/Brian--Sigwart,-CFPsup-sup--RICPsup-sup.e637559.htm

Join Sasha O'Connell, a former FBI executive and director of public sector strategy at Guidehouse, and Love Rutledge of the FedUpward Podcast, along with expert guests as they discuss how young professionals and students should best position themselves for success in the National Security Sector.management and executive leadership. The Mission Is Possible podcast series offers real advice and experiences from some of the top experts in federal law enforcement. This episode is brought to you by a partnership between Guidehouse, American University School of Public Affairs and the FedUpward Podcast. The team conducted a webinar and followed up with a podcast about job hunting while faced with pandemic-related challenges.

For more information about the Mission is Possible series, click here:

https://lnkd.in/dyxiMVE

https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/guidehouse-and-american-university-school-of-public-affairs/mission-is-possible