According to most polls many, if not most, Americans dread the coming election because one of the two major candidates, Democrat Hillary Clinton or Republican Donald Trump is gonna be the winner. While diehards are sticking with their party’s choice, lots of folks apparently wish there was a none-of-the-above box to check in the ballot box. That said, this time next year we will have had eight months’ experience with our new leader. For federal workers that goes double.

In August 2017, the majority of Americans (at least those who are paying attention) will have had more than half a year’s experience with a new regime. Our portfolios will be fatter. Or not. Our homes will be worth more. Or not. Unemployment will have dropped. Or not. North Korea will have come to its senses. Or not. Our jobs will be safer, and better paying. Or not. We won’t know until then. But…

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For Americans who happen to be federal government employees, things could change a lot. Or not. Their TSP account balances could soar or head south. Their jobs — safe even during the great recession — should still be secure. While there may be furloughs caused by congressional funding feuds, the chances of layoffs are slim. Or not. But most feds, whatever their job title, grade and location, will feel the impact of the new president. Especially the new team he, or she, brings in to run your operation.

Washington-based groups that are paid to worry about the future are doing just that. They are worried about the future. The Senior Executives Association notes that nearly half of the government’s career cadre of senior executives (SESers) have NEVER been through a presidential transition in their current jobs. They may have been around for many years, but never before as career civil servants who will be getting new political bosses. FNR’s Nicole Ogrysko has written about the impact of the transition and what it might mean to thousands of career senior managers. To see the report, click here.

And it could be that while members of the SES want, need and deserve more top-down information and confidence, they too could do a better job of communicating with the career GS troops below them:

The Partnership for Public Service, a highly respected worrywart, says that political appointees (of this and past administrations) don’t do such a great job of keeping career feds and managers in the loop. FNR’S Jory Heckman said a new PPS study “shows a double-digit divide between how career employees and managers rate their satisfaction with their department’s communication, and an even larger divide between members of the SES and non-SESers.” To check it out, click here.

Polls, surveys and questionnaires are great. Up to a point. They make for full employment, give the poll takers something to do, and members of the chattering class (the media and political and TV talking heads) something to write about or comment on. But when is the last time the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Fox News polled you? How about probably never? Most polls are taken by small groups (often 1,000 or fewer people), which represent the pulse of the moment of the people. But are they asking the wrong people?

Odds are you work for the government. Or retired from it. You know what it’s like to be a DEA agent. Or a NASA scientist. Or an IRS revenue agent or Social Security claims expert. You’ve delivered mail, or worked behind the counter or in a postal factory. You know what taking the Census involves. How the Consumer Price Index is arrived at. So has anybody asked you how’s it going? What could be done better/cheaper/faster? Does it really make sense to cut the budgets of the Internal Revenue Service or Social Security Administration when their customer base is getting bigger and needs help more than ever before?

What do you see happening to your job, your agency, this country if Clinton or Trump is elected? Which one of them will it be? Where do you think you (and we) will be in August 2017? All replies confidential unless you say otherwise: You can reach me at: mcausey@federalnewsradio.com.

If you’ve got a buddy or office mate who’s on vacation, be sure and forward this to them too. The wisdom of the crowd!!!

Nearly Useless Factoid

By Michael O’Connell

Monopoly Charles Darrow got the idea for his board game’s silver playing pieces from his niece. She suggested that the pieces be charms from a girl’s charm bracelet.

Source: Cool Material

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