Washington, DC – The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee today unanimously approved the Federal Supervisor Training Act of 2010 (S. 674) sponsored by Senator Daniel K. Akaka. The bill requires Federal agencies to establish mandatory training programs for supervisors and builds on recent progress on this issue in the Federal government.
“Improving federal supervisor training will make the federal government more efficient and effective. As we prepare for the retirement of a large portion of the federal workforce, we must invest in developing a new generation of effective supervisors.” Senator Akaka said.
The bill as amended would:
- -Require that supervisors in the Federal government receive training within one year of being appointed a supervisor, and once every three years thereafter;
- -Require that training be provided to supervisors on topics including:
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- -Communicating goals and objectives with employees;
- -Mentoring and motivating employees;
- -Fostering a fair work environment;
- -Employee collective bargaining rights and workplace discrimination law;
- -Managing employees with unacceptable performance;
- -Addressing reports of a hostile work environment; and
- -Otherwise carrying out the duties of a supervisor.
- -Require Federal agencies to establish a program where experienced supervisors mentor new supervisors; and
- -Require the Office of Personnel Management to develop guidance that agencies will use to assess supervisor performance.
The legislation, as amended, builds on the previous version of the bill which passed the Committee in the 110th Congress.