“As we pause to reflect on this important milestone for many, it is important to take a brief look back at its history and a focused and meaningful look at what it means for federal employees today and in the future,” states Federally Employed Women’s Special Assistant for People with Disabilities, Jeri Peterson. President Michelle Crockett added, “FEW was founded for the purpose of ending sex discrimination and this mission has evolved into ending discrimination of all types. We are committed to the principles of ADA and all of its components.”

A Brief Look Back: The bill was introduced in the U. S. House of Representatives and the Senate in 1988. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) authored what became the final bill, was its chief sponsor, and delivered part of his introduction speech in sign language so that his brother could understand. The bill passed the Senate 76-8 and the House by unanimous voice vote (something that is almost unheard of today) and was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush on July 26, 1990.

The ADA is a wide-ranging civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on disability, and affords similar protections against discrimination as the Civil Rights Act of 1964.  In addition, the ADA requires covered employers to provide reasonable accommodations to employees with disabilities, and imposes accessibility requirements on public accommodations.  The ADA applies to both physical and mental disabilities.

On the 25^th Anniversary of the ADA, President Barack Obama announced a series of new actions aimed at improving the lives of and expanding opportunities for people with disabilities.  These actions involve:

• Employment Opportunity

• High Quality Education

• Civic and Community Participation

• Health Care and Healthy Living

• Fair Housing

• Information and Communications Technologies

For details on White House engagement regarding ADA’s 25^th Anniversary, visit:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2015/07/21/president-obama-celebrates-25-years-ada

Additionally, the Smithsonian Museum of American History hosted a 25^th ADA Anniversary Festival for federal agencies to offer educational insights about the ADA, employment opportunities for people with disabilities, and the history of the disability rights movement.  The Festival also presented interactive demonstrations of accessible and inaccessible streetscapes, new ways of finding assistive technology, accessible vehicles, and more.  Participating agencies included the Departments of Health & Human Services, Homeland Security, Justice, Labor, State and Transportation, as well as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Federal Communications Commission, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the National Park Service, the Social Security Administration, and the U.S. Agency for International Development.

“Federally Employed Women proudly celebrates diversity in the workplace and encourages the expansion of opportunities and assistance for those with disabilities that wish to dedicate their lives to public service,” concluded President Crockett.
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This is the first time in American history that we have four generations working in the workplace. At work, generational differences can affect everything, including recruiting, building teams, dealing with change, motivating, managing, and maintaining and increasing productivity. Let’s just think of how generational differences, relative to how people communicate, might affect misunderstandings, high employee turnover, difficulty in attracting employees and gaining employee commitment. It is important that we recognize and bridge generational gaps for a more powerful competitive advantage in our Agencies. It is time that we dissolve the boundaries between generations and adapt to the new workplace because the skills, talents, and expertise of every generation are needed more than ever to rebuild an economy that has been on a roller coaster ride for nearly two decades. In an unstable, unpredictable world, Agencies must turn diversity into a strength and become fluid and flexible to meet workload demands.

We all know people are living a lot longer and working longer leading to this new reality in the workplace. The significance is in terms of types of workforce behaviors, what motivates employee engagement, and the tools and practices they need to interact. It this mixed, multi-generational environment is a new diversity challenge. We have a responsibility to understand and engage everyone’s talents and skills to collaborate on getting the best work done every day. (See the chart below)

Federally Employed Women (FEW) promotes diversity in the workplace, not only for women but for all generations. We commitment ourselves to a well-informed and skilled workforce on all issues dealing with legislative, compliance and diversity. It is vital that we utilize our difference to excel our Agencies missions and get the job done well. Science has proved that the generation gap is real. Workplace harmony is not always easy because of these generational gaps. In the chart below we define the outlooks and differences. Most times we never discuss our co-workers generational differences.  It’s time we bring awareness to the diversity of our workforce and the unspoken generational gaps.

It’s that time again… Federally Employed Women’s (FEW) National Training Program (NTP) 2015 is just SIX weeks away and training and development is even more crucial to Agencies and federal workers.   FEW’s NTP’s are designed to train and develop workers and provide opportunities for attendees to garner the support needed for excelling in their careers.   FEW’s NTP is exactly that — a training program.

Training programs primarily focus on providing tools and information needed to excel you in your career.  Attendees take what they’ve learned and apply it in their careers.   Conferences, on the other hand, focus on providing valuable information and garnering support.  FEW’s NTP is a training program with courses aligned directly to OPM’s core competencies and Executive Qualifications. Afterwards, we provide attendees with documentation they can use to apply for Conitinuing Education Units (CEU’s) for each course taken.  While there are discussions of whether FEW’s NTP is considered a training program or a conference, we have never considered the NTP a conference.   We are the only affinity group that offers the Special Emphasis Project Manager’s (SEPM) certification class presented by the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute (DEOMI) and our trainers are considered specialist in their fields and up-to-date on trends for their subject matter.

On May 1, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued a memorandum titled the “OPM’s Discontinuation of Issuing Memoranda regarding Whether Conferences Qualify as a Training Activity under 5 CFR 410.404.”  In this memorandum OPM encouraged “agencies to continue to consider professional training organizations and affinity groups as a source of training. ”  Attendance at FEW’s NTP would comply as an developmental assignment.  The NTP under section 4110 of title 5, United States Code meets all these guidelines.    It has been announced as educational training program with an organized exchange of information between presenters and the audience. Our training content is germane to improving individual and/or organizational performance and developmental benefits will be derived through the employee’s attendance.

FEW offers the NTP as an option for training at a reasonable price to provide opportunities.  Operating “In the Spirit of Excellence” is not always easy, but, FEW is on a “Journey to Excellence” at the 46th NTP.  I encourage you to join us, July 13 – 17, at the Hilton Riverside in New Orleans, LA.  FEW stands true to our mission of providing professional development training opportunities.

“Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty” – John F. Kennedy

 

Memorial Day is a time where every American reflect on freedom and the men and women who sacrificed so much for it.  It’s a day in which we embrace our families and honor all people who defended this great nation.  FEW recognizes that the brave never die, their spirit and strength lives within all of us.  We thank them for their sacrifice for liberty and justice for all.

On this Memorial Day, FEW bear witness to the hero’s of this land, the military men and women who served this great nation and gave the ultimate sacrifice — their lives.   FEW shall never forget.

As the holiday season is upon us, we find ourselves reflecting on the past year and those who have helped to shape our organization.  It’s been quite a year for us all!  As we reflect upon the good things we have… like our partnership with you.   We hope that 2014 has been just as memorable for you, your colleagues and your loved ones. We look forward to working with you in the years to come.

FEW would like to thank the men in our lives who are visionaries and support the mission of FEW.   We are so blessed and above all better because we have their support.   We are a group of strong, wise and enduring women and men because of the support of men. On this day, it’s our opportunity and a privilege to say thank you.

FEW wishes you a very special Happy Father’s Day.

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