Susan Tsui Grundmann

FILE - In this March 30, 2019, file photo the Dome of the U.S. Capitol Building is visible as cherry blossom trees bloom on the West Lawn in Washington. Washington health officials recommended on Wednesday, March 11, 2020, that all “non-essential mass gatherings, including conferences and conventions,” be postponed or canceled through the end of March, a move that could imperil the popular Cherry Blossom Festival. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

An impending long recess will force a lot of action in Congress this week

From a supreme court confirmation vote to Russian misbehavior, the House and Senate have a lot to do in the coming week. And there’s considerable time…

Congress

Sheet metal worker Carey Mercer assembles ductwork at Contractors Sheet Metal on Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021, in New York. The construction industry is fighting to recruit more women into a sector that faces chronic labor shortages. As spending on infrastructure rises, construction firms will need to hire at least 430,000 new skilled laborers in 2021, according to an analysis of federal data by the Associated Builders and Contractors. Right now, only 4% of construction laborers in the U.S. are women, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (AP Photo/Kevin Hagen)

Contractors have less than two months to create affirmative action programs

Federal Newscast

In this Aug. 7, 2018, photo, Mark Robbins, the sole member of the Merit Systems Protection Board, walks through the supply closet, pointing to boxes full of cases, in his office in Washington. Robbins reads through federal workplace disputes, analyzes the cases, marks them with notes and logs his legal opinions. He then passes them along to nobody. He’s the only member of a three-member board that legally can’t operate until the president and Congress give him at least one colleague. (AP Photo/Juliet Linderman)

If they’re ever confirmed, here’s what MSPB members will face

Workforce

(Getty Images/Wavebreak Media/Wavebreakmedia Ltd)

FLRA nominees pledge expeditious action on backlog of unfair labor practice complaints

Workforce Rights/Governance

(Getty Images/Wavebreak Media/Wavebreakmedia Ltd)

Biden announces new slate of impasse panel members

Unions

Office that oversees congressional employee rights having a busier new year than normal

Congress

A vehicle approaches the only open lane at the United States border crossing in Lacolle, Quebec, Wednesday, March 18, 2020. The Canada-U.S. border will be closed to non-essential traffic in both directions

Here’s one telework best practice

Federal Report

OCWR has developed an alternative process for dispute resolution

Federal Drive

Congress’ Office of Workplace Rights has new policies

Federal Drive

Susan Tsui Grundmann: Office of Compliance keeps eye out for civil rights violations

Federal Drive

MSPB faces potential budget, legislative challenges in 2017, departing chair warns

Workforce Rights/Governance

MSPB down to one member, while President Obama taps inspectors general for major agencies

With the the chairman of the Merit Systems Protection Board resigning in less than a week, employees appealing their disciplinary actions will have to…

Workforce

William Wiley, Co-Founder of Federal Employment Law Training Group, former Chief Counsel to Chairman of MSPB

MSPB will have 1 voting member in March. What happens next?

Unless President-elect Donald Trump appoints two new members quickly, the Merit Systems Protection Board will likely have one voting member come March…

Workforce Rights/Governance

Robert McKenrick, Diana Rubens, Kimberly Graves, Antione Waller, Linda Haliday, Danny Pummill

VA’s struggles with MSPB open door for SES oversight changes

Management

Senior leaders at the Veterans Affairs Department say the bill that was supposed to help them hold agency senior executives more accountable isn’t working. Agency leaders are considering changes to the VA Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014 (Choice Act).