The Buzz: June 6, 2018

the buzz

Reservist E-Newsletter - June 2018 Edition

FEMA's mission is to help people before, during, and after disasters.


Let Your Voice Count and Get Paid for it, Complete the FEVS Today!

FEVS Graphic
All non-deployed Reservists are eligible to request compensation for completing the 2018 FEVS!

Time is running out, but there is still time to let your voice be heard. All FEMA Reservists are invited to complete the 2018 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS) before June 21, and can now be compensated for doing so.

This year, all eligible non-deployed Reservists can request compensation (not to exceed 30 mins) for completing the 2018 FEVS. This compensation is also retroactive for non-deployed Reservists who have already completed the survey. Deployed Reservists, and all other FEMA employees, are encouraged to complete the survey during their regularly scheduled workday. Participation in the FEVS is voluntary and your responses are confidential. If you have any questions, please contact your Cadre Coordinator.

Reservists make up a substantial portion of the FEMA workforce and are vital to our ability to execute our mission. We need your input! The 2018 FEVS was sent to all FEMA Reservists (on board as of October 2017) regardless of deployment status. Check your FEMA email account and look for an e-mail from:  USASurvey@opm.gov with the subject line: FEMA 2018 Stafford Act Employee Viewpoint Survey. You will receive weekly prompts from OPM until you complete the FEVS, so please complete the survey as soon as you get it.

The FEVS takes about 15-20 minutes to complete. Survey results translate into a better workplace for you and better service for the communities we serve. The 2018 FEVS will end Thursday, June 21, 2018. Complete the FEVS today and let your voice count!

FEMA’s 2017 FEVS results are available for viewing online.  


The Road to Employee Wellness

Employee wellness is a top priority for FEMA. Emergency management work is rewarding, but can be challenging, stressful, and mentally fatiguing. To provide the best care to survivors, we must first take care of our own mental and physical health, and the health of those around us.

To support your road to wellness, FEMA will provide employees with resources throughout the summer including helpful information on topics such as diet, fitness, proper rest, work-life planning, immunizations, and mental health support.

Join us on Wednesday, June 13, from 1-2 p.m. ET, for a panel discussion with leaders in the fields of physical and mental health. These experts will discuss ways to improve your individual wellness. Visit the Wellness intranet page for details on additional events and activities.

Note: ALL FEMA EMPLOYEES are invited to attend. Reservist employees are encouraged to attend; however, attendance is voluntary and compensation is not authorized.


Reservist Advisory Board Meeting Update

Photo of Reservist Advisory Board

The Reservist Advisory Board (RAB) met May 15-18, at the Joint Field Office in Austin, Texas, where it hosted four open forum sessions with Reservists deployed to Hurricane Harvey (4332-TX). One of the primary concerns raised was inconsistent messaging in regards to Position Task Book management, Coach and Evaluator assignments, and Local Hire-to-Reservist hiring processes.  

RAB members followed up on open items and introduced opportunities for improvement in collaborative working group sessions that included senior leadership and subject-matter experts from the Office of the Chief Component Human Capital Officer, and the Workforce Development Division. As a result of those discussions, the RAB is excited about an upcoming opportunity to support newly-hired Reservists, by serving as on-site advisors during Emergency Management Orientation (EMO) training starting in July.

Summaries of Conclusion from previous meetings, profiles of RAB members, and links to helpful information can be found on the new RAB Intranet page. Questions from the sessions will be compiled into a series of FAQs that will be posted in DTS and on the RAB page as well. Please email FEMA-RAB@fema.dhs.gov if you have questions or suggestions.


Do You Know Your Cadre Coordinator?

 A Cadre Coordinator oversees all aspects of day-to-day cadre management including staffing, equipping, training, qualifying and performance of the cadre and its members. Here is a list of FEMA’s Cadre Coordinators: