Low Budgets and Diminished Workforce Can Increase Exposure for Managers and Supervisors
Staffing issues have been a constant problem for many federal agencies over the last several decades. Unfortunately, low staffing levels continue to create challenges for federal managers and supervisors. Recent reports have highlighted how constrained budgets and low workforce levels have had a lasting influence on the efficiency and effectiveness of certain agencies. Within the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), for example, a recent budget debate has sparked discussion about how low staffing, coupled with the expectation of completing the same, if not higher, levels of workload, can have adverse ripple effects within the workforce. The American Federation of Government Employees in particular has drawn attention to the impact of understaffing at the EPA, arguing that understaffing can cause burnout and low morale. Overworked employees can generate situations in which managers and supervisors become the target of various complaints and calls for discipline.
Any time a workplace experiences low morale and employee burnout, employees are more susceptible to making mistakes. Whenever mistakes are made within the federal government, there is a call for discipline, a task that falls on the shoulders of managers and supervisors. Administering discipline puts managers and supervisors at risk of being accused of discrimination or misconduct, and can lead to agency investigations. If an allegation is made against you, it is a necessity, not luxury, to have knowledgeable and effective counsel advocating on your behalf. As a federal manager, you need to have counsel that has specific experience representing federal employees with your professional vulnerabilities. A FEDS Protection professional liability insurance (PLI) policy can help.
FEDS Protection offers federal employee policies with $1 million, $2 million, or $3 million in civil liability protection for attorney’s fees and indemnity costs in the event you are sued in your civil capacity. The FEDS policy also includes $200,000 of legal representation coverage per incident for administrative actions and $100,000 of coverage for criminal defense costs. FEDS Protection is affordable – annual premiums start at just $290. Additionally, federal managers and law enforcement officers are eligible for a reimbursement of up to 50% the cost of their PLI policy through their agency. To learn more about how a FEDS PLI policy can protect you and your career, visit www.fedsprotection.com or call (866) 955-FEDS, M-F 8:30am-6pm to speak directly to a representative.
*This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.