MEDIA RELEASE: National Academy of Public Administration and Federal Judicial Center release study on enhanced workplace safety best practices for the federal judiciary

Post Date: July 17, 2024

Washington, D.C. – The National Academy of Public Administration and the Federal Judicial Center have released the finished product of a congressionally directed study of the federal judiciary this week, Enhancing Efforts to Coordinate Best Workplace Practices Across the Federal Judiciary. The study is available in full at the Academy website here.

The report, mandated and funded by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, found several key areas in which improvements can be quickly implemented for workplace safety within the judiciary. These include guidance for ensuring effective Model Employee Dispute Resolution plans, encouraging strong judicial leadership on issues of workplace conduct, and maintaining good records-keeping and information sharing for workplace conduct complaints and resolutions.

“This report highlights many achievable options for judicial consideration to improve workplace safety across the Federal Judiciary. There are key opportunities within to implement effective Employee Dispute Resolution plans, improve results assessments and outreach and, crucially, report and quantify all the results to Congress and the public,” National Academy of Public Administration President and CEO Terry Gerton said.

“Oversight and transparency are hugely important in strengthening workplace safety and this report gives the Judiciary a roadmap to put both into practice.”

The study, conducted by 5 expert panelists and Academy Fellows:

• Assessed how Model Employment Dispute Resolution (EDR) plans have been implemented in the courts and employing units.

• Assessed how informal advice, assisted resolution, and formal complaint processes were working, and considered what type of information about their use ought to be collected and reported, balancing concerns about program effectiveness, confidentiality, and assessment.

• Assessed the nature and level of educational and outreach efforts.

• Assessed the use of uscourts.gov and local court of appeals, district, and bankruptcy court websites to provide workplace information to the public and to employees; assessed if the provided information was complete, helpful, and accessible.

The report includes a series of detailed options for judicial consideration that seek to improve the employee dispute resolution processes and mechanisms for communicating resources.

About the Federal Judicial Center

Established in 1967, the Federal Judicial Center is the research and education agency of the judicial branch of the United States government. Its status as a separate agency within the judicial branch, its specific missions, and its specialized expertise enable it to pursue and encourage critical and careful examination of ways to improve judicial administration. The Center has no policymaking or enforcement authority; its role is to provide accurate, objective information and education and to encourage thorough and candid analysis of policies, practices, and procedures.

About the National Academy of Public Administration

Chartered by Congress to provide nonpartisan expert advice, the Academy is an independent, nonprofit, and nonpartisan organization established in 1967 to assist government leaders in building more effective, efficient, accountable, and transparent organizations. Learn more at www.napawash.org

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