ACT-IAC Evolving the Workforce COI November 2018 Meeting

Thursday, November 08, 2018 - 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM EDT

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Featured Topic:  "Sexual Harassment in Government Agencies – MSPB Survey/Report and Agencies"

ACT-IAC's Evolving the Workforce COI’s November meeting will focus on a study of sexual harassment across the Government, based on research the Merit Systems Protection Board has conducted over many years, and recent survey results from the agencies.  Also speaking will be representatives from agencies on their experiences and solutions they are implementing to prevent sexual harassment in their workplaces.  We hope that you attend either in person or online, and take advantage of the Q&A session!

Intended Outcome for Attending: Hear latest research on sexual harassment in Government workforce; learn the rules that cover this behavior and techniques to prevent it.

Background on the Session
As part of its mission to conduct Government-wide studies and report on the health of Federal merit systems, the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) has collected data on sexual harassment in the Federal workplace. In 1979, a subcommittee of the U.S. House of Representatives asked MSPB, which has the statutory responsibility to evaluate adherence to the Federal merit system principles and avoidance of prohibited personnel practices, to conduct a thorough and scientific study on the prevalence of sexual harassment among Federal employees.

MSPB conducted surveys in the 1980’s and 1990’s and most recently in 2016. These surveys solicited Federal employees’ views on various issues, including what behaviors constitute sexual harassment and whether they had experienced any of these behaviors in the prior 2 years. Both questions are important to ask because Federal employees need to have a shared understanding of sexual harassment to cease behaviors that can be problematic. 

In March 1981, MSPB issued the report Sexual Harassment in the Federal Workplace: Is It a Problem? and published follow up reports in 1988 and 1995. Although some stakeholders might have assumed that sexual harassment had decreased to the point that it no longer warranted focused leadership attention or further research, sexual harassment continues to be a problem for both Federal employees and Federal agencies. Therefore, in 2015, MSPB included an update on sexual harassment in its Research Agenda for 2015-2018.

The panel discussion will highlight the results of the MSPB research with discussion from the agencies represented as well as best practices and recommendations to prevent this behavior.

Panelists:

  • Dr. Cynthia H. Ferentinos, Office of Policy and Evaluation, U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board
  • Rhonda Davis, Head of Office of Diversity and Inclusion, National Science Foundation
  • Brigid Schulte, Director of the Better Life Lab, New America
  • Alieza Durana, Senior Policy Analyst, New America
  • Bob Clarke, Clarke Sales Consulting (Moderator)

Agenda

  • Welcome and Introductions – Evolving the Workforce and Emerging Technologies COIs Leadership
  • Updates from EWF and ET COI Leadership
  • Brief Review of Workforce Track sessions at Imagine Nation Conference
  • Panel Discussion: “Sexual Harassment in Government Agencies – MSPB Survey/Report and Agencies”

Remote participation option will be provided upon registration

Venue
LearningTree International - Alexandria Education Center
1925 Ballenger Ave, Alexandria, VA
This location is just off of the Capital Beltway (I-495) in the Carlyle Center and within walking distance of the King Street Metro Station on the system’s Blue and Yellow lines.

To Register
ACT-IAC Members: Register link on the right
Non-members: Contact April Davis for information about membership ([email protected] or 703-208-4800 ext. 202).


Save the Date for Future COI Meetings

December 13, 2018 Meeting – Explore Futures: Eight Insights from NASA’s Future of Work Study
January 2019 Meeting - OPM Human Capital Reviews featuring OPM speakers
February 2019 Meeting - How to Build a Culture of Trust in the Workplace featuring Agency speakers
March 2019 Meeting - First Anniversary: PMA Update on CAP Goal 3, featuring Key Agencies Leaders
April 2019 Meeting - Workforce Reskilling, featuring Trey Kennedy of CIO Council and other Agency speakers
May 2019 Meeting - Employee Digital Records featuring OPM and Agencies speakers

 

Venue Address

LearningTree International Alexandria Education Center
1925 Ballenger Ave
Alexandria, VA