Solving the problem of understaffed jails and prisons
State and local governments are working to attract and retain corrections workers. But it’s not easy, and the task is complicated by high burnout rates due to understaffing.
High turnover is disrupting efforts to fix the workforce crisis, a survey finds
The poll of state and local HR managers finds that hiring has increased, but so has the number of people quitting.
6 takeaways for the government workforce crisis
COMMENTARY | Public servants from coast to coast share their advice on how to successfully hire and retain government talent.
Is government culture stifling customer experience innovation?
Risk aversion among government managers is blocking needed improvements to key programs, according to a recent white paper.
A balancing act: Adding humor to government communications
COMMENTARY | Local and state agencies walk a fine line between showing their personality through humor and remaining factual.
The Press and the Government
Kentucky agencies are restricting their workers’ interaction with the media—in some ways that are unconstitutional. It highlights a tension that has long existed between governments and news outlets. Plus, more news to use from around the country in this week's State and Local Roundup.
A Model for Reducing Female Incarceration and Breaking the Generational Cycle
A program in Tulsa, Oklahoma, has been changing lives for addicted women and their children. Here’s how it works.
Staffing Challenges Spur Another Look at Four-Day Workweeks
School districts think shorter weeks could attract more teachers, while one Colorado city hopes they can help address chronic staffing shortages at its police department.
Celebrating Public Service—and Public Servants
COMMENTARY | Government is asked to solve our toughest and most intractable problems. That’s why we need to celebrate the people who make a difference through government service.
The Montana Legislator's Censure Shows That American Standards of Political Decorum Are Failing
COMMENTARY | The move violates the spirit of legislative rules set by none other than Thomas Jefferson, one of the founders of this country, more than 200 years ago. Those rules were written to protect minority views.
States Vote to End Subminimum Wage
Advocates for people with disabilities see progress in leveling pay and ending work segregation.
Can Performance Pay Help States and Cities Hang onto the Best and Brightest?
After years in which compensation tied to performance was considered a “failed experiment,” workforce pressures are bringing it back to the table again.
State & Local Roundup: Top Counties Return to Pre-pandemic Populations
Plus: Seattle gig workers get paid sick leave; Chicago and Wisconsin go to the polls; California’s insulin experiment hits a bump; Big gaps in electric vehicle ownership; and more news you can use from around the country.
Tips to Ensure Governors Start Off on the Right Foot
A recent report offers new officeholders guidance on how to hit the ground running.
An Attack on Auditor Independence Jeopardizes One State’s Fiscal Future
The Iowa Senate passed a bill that severely limits its auditor’s access to critical documents. The ramifications could be severe.
Data-Based Decision-Making Is Flawed When the Data Is Flawed
There are many reasons the quality of state and local data can be poor. Using that information can lead to unfortunate results.
What Keeps Public Employees In Their Jobs? It’s Not Just Pay
There are several factors more important than money in reducing staff turnover among government workers, a new study shows.
Diversity of US Workplaces Is Growing in Terms of Race, Ethnicity and Age – Forcing More Employers to Be Flexible
COMMENTARY | Employers need good strategies to hire and retain more workers of color and older workers. The mandatory diversity training and requisite skills tests many of them now rely on don’t measure up.
How to Transform the Public-Sector Workforce
COMMENTARY | Enact a strategy that embraces people, purpose, growth and learning in your organization.
How One State Is Excelling at Process Improvement
Every week Nebraska is contacted by other states to learn how it is saving staff time, streamlining projects and delivering better customer services. Here’s why.
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