Upskilling to build critical skills and competencies: A crucial HR focus in 2021

In the past year, we saw a global pandemic completely shift every aspect of everyday life, including work. Remote working arrangements tested the practicality of traditional management processes and put the spotlight on the limitations of legacy IT systems. Prior to the pandemic, government HR leaders were generally concerned with recruiting, motivating, and retaining talent. And while upskilling was already a key priority for government departments prior to the pandemic, COVID-19 has heightened the reskilling challenge. The adoption of new technology in terms of working and HR has been an exciting one; technology has enabled a quick adaption to the …

The 3 biggest benefits of a remote workforce

Even before the advent of Covid-19, remote working had moved from a mere perk reserved for the few to a mainstream concept. While pre-2020 employees may have started to work out of the office here and there, being thrust into a global pandemic accelerated the uptake – and acceptance – of remote work. While Covid-19 didn’t initiate the idea of remote working, it definitely fast-tracked a trend in the making. With this fast tracking came a whole host of unexpected opportunities and challenges. Many government agencies had to urgently solve security, data and collaboration issues related to remote work without …

Learning reimagined in the Public Sector

Learning and development (L&D) are the foundations of any organization. They drive knowledge and encourage continuous improvement. Some organizations spend significant time and resources building up their L&D, whilst others let it slide, and it is usually clear which ones have made the investment. Geneviève Béland says that at OSFI, they’ve “been on a path of renewal since 2017.” The organization itself “was created in 1987” with a mandate “to protect the rights and interests of depositors, policyholders, financial institution creditors and pension plan members, while allowing financial institutions to compete and take reasonable risks.” In other words, they are …

6 reasons to invest in Talent Management

Why workplace wellness is key to organisational success

It’s no secret that the workplace has a huge impact on the physical, mental, economic and social wellbeing of employees. With the average full-time worker spending around 40 hours a week at work, it can be easy to see how the hours spent working can play a vital role in shaping a person’s overall wellness experience. Combine this with a global pandemic and the topic of ‘employee wellness’ becomes ever so crucial. With COVID-19 signalling a huge shift towards remote working, many employees found themselves juggling work, home schooling and house duties. The pandemic has led to less separation between …

Women in Leadership Spotlight Series: Colleen McManus HR Programs Manager & Executive Consultant, State of Arizona

Much of my public sector career has been spent in para-military agencies, so I became accustomed to environments that were largely comprised of males, particularly in the key leadership and decision-making roles. I learned that if I regarded and presented myself as a professional first and woman second, other people saw and treated me as a professional. When I moved into senior leadership, I had the opportunity to mentor other women and create development programs for all staff in these environments, which helped to bring more diversity and inclusion in leadership roles. Throughout my career, I have been immersed in …

Women in Leadership Spotlight Series: Stephanie Delgado, Senior Program Manager of Insight & Analytics - GovSpend

In addition to being a featured guest speaker at PSN's upcoming 'Big Data & Actionable Analytics' virtual event, Stephanie Delgado is the Senior Program Manager of Insight and Analytics for GovSpend - a company which aggregates public sector spending for all levels and types of public sector agencies. Outside of her 9-5, she is a contributor for Forbes Ignite (check out her piece on the Future of Work she wrote for Medium last year.) Stephanie has a Master’s Degree in Economic Management & Policy, and focuses on finding quantitative ways to measure qualitative variables. She also has a Finance/Admin Section …

Women in Leadership Spotlight Series: Amy Hess, Chief of Public Safety, Louisville Metro Government

As the Chief of Public Safety for Louisville Metro Goverpublic sector network woman speakers imagenment, I oversee four departments: Police, Fire, Corrections, and Emergency Services. Together, these agencies comprise about 2,500 employees and a budget of $369 million. I previously served as a Special Agent in the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), with assignments in Kansas City, Louisville, Tucson, Afghanistan, Memphis, Quantico, and Washington, DC. At the time I left the FBI in 2019, I was the highest-ranking woman and the only person to have served twice as Executive Assistant Director. I loved working for the FBI because I believe …