H.R. 242: Manager Attitudes and Notions According to Government Employee Responses Act

This bill, known as the Manager Attitudes and Notions According to Government Employee Responses Act or the MANAGER Act, aims to enhance the understanding of managerial sentiment within federal agencies. Here’s a breakdown of the primary components of the bill:

Annual Survey Requirement

The bill mandates that each federal agency conduct an annual survey specifically targeting its managers. This survey is designed to gather insights on various aspects of management roles and responsibilities, particularly focusing on their experiences and perceptions related to employee discipline and agency support.

Specific Survey Questions

The survey must include a series of questions that cover topics such as:

• Confidence in agency leadership's support when disciplining employees.
• Confidence in the employee discipline system.
• Managerial support and feelings of being supported.
• Adequacy of training regarding employee discipline.
• Time available for new employee observation and intervention.
• Reasons managers might refrain from disciplining employees.
• Involvement in labor negotiations affecting their work units.
• Willingness to recommend management roles to colleagues.
• Impact of discipline issues on team morale.
• Retention of good employees despite discipline challenges.

Response Options

Each survey will not only provide multiple-choice options but will also include space for narrative responses to allow managers to elaborate on their answers. This is aimed at collecting more detailed feedback that quantitative responses might not capture.

Implementation Timeline

Following the passage of the bill, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is required to update relevant regulations to align with the new requirements. This update must occur within 180 days of the bill’s enactment.

Definitions

The bill defines key terms to ensure clarity:

• Agency: Refers to any Executive agency as defined in U.S. law.
• Federal Manager: A federal employee at grade GS-13 or higher who acts in a supervisory or management capacity.

Goals of the Bill

Ultimately, the MANAGER Act seeks to improve federal management practices by:

• Identifying issues that managers face regarding employee discipline.
• Assessing managers' confidence in their roles and agency support.
• Facilitating better training and resources for federal managers.
• Understanding the management challenges that affect employee morale and retention.

Relevant Companies

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