SIOP Hosts Briefing for Policymakers on Rebuilding the Federal Workforce
SIOP hosted a briefing May 20 on “Rebuilding the Federal Workforce” for congressional staff, agency officials, and other external stakeholders. During the briefing, a panel of I-O psychologists spoke on research findings around improving onboarding, increase diversity and inclusion, and enabling better work-life balance. Inspired by recent attrition in the federal workforce, the briefing also addressed workplace changes due to COVID-19, the national movement to address race and equity, a changing presidential administration, and other recent events that have impacted workers and workplaces. The panel of experts fielded questions from the moderator and audience members on creating efficient and equitable onboarding processes, incorporating and training on new technologies, providing opportunities for professional development and promotion, supporting women in the workplace, and other topics facing policymakers.
The panel was comprised of Drs. Tammy Allen, Talya Bauer, and Derek Avery, and was moderated by Dr. Alex Alonso. The briefing also featured opening remarks from Dr. Steven Rogelberg, SIOP President, and Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. View the recording of this briefing here.
Capitol Hill Continues to Work on Policing Reform
During the 117th Congress, there has been renewed interest in passing policing reform legislation from both chambers. In March, the House of Representatives passed the Democratic-led George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. In the Senate, Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Tim Scott (R-SC) are currently drafting a bill that they hope will be able to earn broad bipartisan support. While Congress is unlikely to meet President Biden’s goal of having a bill passed by Memorial Day, movement towards policing reform legislation continues, though disagreements over issues such as qualified immunity, chokeholds, and no-knock warrants have slowed progress. The SIOP Policing Initiative has maintained its engagement with congressional leaders in policing reform, including key staff in Senators Booker’s and Scott’s offices. During these meetings, the SIOP Policing Initiative has offered the expertise of the I-O community and advocates for the use of evidence-based hiring, training, promotion, and professional development within police departments. Additional details on the SIOP Policing Initiative’s advocacy priorities are available here.
Competitiveness Bills Grow and Advance with Key Social Science and Workforce Provisions
The Senate has pulled together a massive bill with multiple science provisions to increase competitiveness with China. Dubbed the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act, the centerpiece of the bill is the Endless Frontier Act (EFA), which would authorize the National Science Foundation, and direct new funding toward core research and a new Directorate. Simultaneously, the House of Representatives advanced their NSF reauthorization bill, the NSF for the Future Act, where it awaits a vote by the full House. While differences remain in their respective legislative frameworks, both focus on broad themes of utilizing research and development to increase domestic competitiveness, increasing funding for the agency, making STEM education and careers more accessible to underrepresented groups, and creating a new Directorate within NSF to focus on technology transfer. Of specific interest to I-O psychology, the House bill directs NSF to ensure the participation of social, economic, and behavioral science researchers in cross-cutting programs and to award grants to study “the factors that influence growth, retention, and development of [the STEM] workforce.” The Senate bill includes a requirement that NSF and other agencies assess how federal support can be used to expand workforce development and employment systems, as well as strategies for upskilling workers. Lewis-Burke remains focused on this dynamic legislation and will continue to monitor for issues of relevance to I-O psychology.
Bipartisan Effort to Modernize Congress Continues
At the start of 2021, the U.S. House of Representatives Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress was renewed for another two years and given a mandate to continue its efforts to make Congress “more effective, efficient, and transparent on behalf of the American people.” In a recent hearing, the Select Committee discussed ways to help Congress recruit, retain, and empower diverse congressional staff. During the hearing, Chairman Derek Kilmer (D-WA) announced that the House made its Office of Diversity and Inclusion permanent, on recommendation of the Select Committee. Other topics of discussion included the need for more diversity at senior staff levels; the need for Congress to do more to intentionally recruit the best and brightest students from across the country, especially outside of established networks; how members of Congress need to be intentional about setting an inclusive tone in their offices; and how members of Congress should receive diversity and inclusion training at their new Member orientation and throughout their congressional careers. During an event with the Bipartisan Policy Center, Chairman Kilmer and Vice Chair William Timmons (R-SC) offered additional suggestions for ways to modernize Congress, including allowing more time in Washington, D.C. for members to get to know each other, to increase staff pay and benefits in order to retain highly skilled staff, to return to regular order of lawmaking, and to get Members to buy-in to a culture change towards civility. Because many of these issues relate to I-O psychology, SIOP and Lewis-Burke will continue to monitor the activities of the Select Committee and will engage with them as appropriate.
Publication Type
Washington InfO
Topic
Government Relations