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ORR Team,
This month’s FEMA Core Value focuses on Integrity. Integrity is very personal to me and is a continual work in progress. I’m glad to see the word integrity on Core Values posters hanging on the walls around FEMA HQ and to read about it in Pub 1. What I’ve come to realize, here at FEMA, is that some folks view integrity differently because we come from different backgrounds and cultures. So, what does integrity mean through our daily interactions working at FEMA? Some common responses:
- It’s doing the right thing when nobody’s looking
- It’s keeping your word
- It’s choosing the hard right over the easy wrong
- It’s holding yourself accountable for your actions
I’ve found that Kathy Miles*, in her summary of Dan Coughlin’s newsletter, summed it up succinctly:
Internal integrity – Is your integrity just for show because it looks good, or do you truly live your life with integrity in mind? Internal integrity is about being able to do the right thing, even if no one is looking and even if you will receive absolutely no credit for doing so. Doing the right thing, even though it may be the harder option despite that no one is looking, is a huge step towards ensuring that you live with integrity.
External integrity – This is what you portray to those around you. You have high external integrity when your actions are consistent with your thoughts and what you are saying. If you are saying one thing, but your actions say something else - you have some more work to do!
Image integrity – While you might outwardly be displaying the right actions and taking the right path, can these actions be thought of in any other way? Are you leaving your image open to interpretation? People have great imaginations. When we don't understand something, we are very quick to make assumptions and form beliefs about why something is occurring. Looking after your "image integrity" is about ensuring that none of your actions or words can be misconstrued.
Having integrity is not easy and sometimes can have unpleasant consequences. It’s not easy to step up to the plate when everybody wants to sweep issues “under the rug” or stick up for a colleague who is being mistreated. But, I’ve found that as a result of maintaining integrity, I can work effectively with my teammates and FEMA applicants to rapidly build trust and rapport. Integrity among leaders in organizations sets the tone for the rest to follow. Please make it your goal to be a person of integrity for the sake of your team and FEMA.
*https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/importance-integrity-workplace-kathy-miles
– Kristine Petermann Core Values Team Analyst Office of Policy & Analysis | Field Operations Directorate
To download FEMA Core Values resources for distribution and training, go to FEMA Pub 1 - We are FEMA! Intranet Site
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Thank You Team for Your Support
The ORR Core Values Team would like to express tremendous gratitude to everyone who has devoted their time throughout the year to define what it means to show Compassion, Fairness, Integrity, and Respect in the workplace, as well as Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Happy Holidays to all of you and a prosperous New Year!
Pictured above - Top Row (L-R): Erin Sehnert, LaNita Taylor, Peter Crawford, Shanika McCorvey, Edward Benoit, Maite Rubio; Center Row (L-R): Angelina Leger, Jennifer Bible, Julia Salas, Amy Singer, Pamela L’Heureaux; Bottom Row (L-R): Loralyn “Lori” Smith, Krystal Mannering, Monique Alexander, Rebecca Soulen, Jameelah Haynes, Angela Novak
Not pictured: Juan Garcia-Garcia, Kelsey Anderson, Melissa Fredericks, Noel Miner, Rachel Tranchik, Elizabeth Angel, Ann Gomes, Cheryl R. Catchings, David Rodriguez, Jenny Tang, Shanterra Curry, Lila Eid, Carlos Davila, Jacquelyn Dewey, Stephanie Fast, Jahnel Walker, Flor Manzanares, Pierre Gwet Lock, Risa Abraham, Preston Atkinson, Christopher Blaz, Kevin Burke, Sedrick Buxton, Jamie Casterson, Stephanie Dovichi, Alan “Clark” Elerson, Shirlene McMurray, Tammi Harris, Temeka, Christine Howlett, Lavar James, Tara Johnston, Alexandria McClurkin, Mary Mills, Hattie Mukombe, Melissa Sedlacik, Kaila Shutts, Timothy Webb, Lisa Tsirikos, Caitland Stanbro, and Kristine Petermann
This month's Staff Spotlight goes out to Gregory Polk!
Gregory Polk, Supervisory Emergency Management Specialist with the National Watch Center in the Response Operations Division, is a person who consistently shows integrity in everything he does. If he says something, you can hold him to his word because his communication is very clear. Greg’s moral judgment and character is based on honesty, and it shows in his actions. There has not been an instance where his behavior did not reflect his values of being reliable, honest, and fair. Building relationships with individuals must have a level of trust and respect, and that is what I witness with Greg when he conducts business on behalf of our branch and with his employees. Greg is a great role model who treats everyone with respect, compassion, fairness, and always displays integrity.
– Monique Alexander Program Specialist, National Watch Center, FEMA Response Directorate
Would you like to nominate a colleague who exemplifies FEMA Core Values? Email FEMA-ORR-CoreValues-Team@fema.dhs.gov for more information.
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FEMA Core Value: Integrity encompasses our responsibility as stewards of Federal resources, services, and programs, and our conduct as trusted professionals. We earn trust by being accountable, present, honest, and dependable.
Integrity is such an important and integral part of our lives. It is the practice of being honest and adhering to moral codes and ethical values. Integrity involves “doing the right thing” and being cognizant of the fact that what you do can have implications for others. It is also not only following established rules, but also knowing when it is appropriate to not adhere to social norms (if those social norms are harmful to others). That said, everyone defines "what doing the right thing is" a little differently. However, as a rule of thumb, if you are not causing harm to others or yourself, practicing truthfulness, and exemplifying consistency-most people would agree that you are embodying integrity.
When you practice integrity, those around you will be appreciative because they know that they can rely on you. Integrity is a fundamental necessity in the workplace as it fosters a sense of deep-rooted trust. It is amazing to witness a team work together so well because they know their co-workers, subordinates, and leaders value integrity.
“Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody’s going to know whether you did it or not.” – Oprah Winfrey
– Simone Dozier Management and Program Analyst I Workforce Management Division
Would you like to share what FEMA Core Values means to you? Email FEMA-ORR-CoreValues-Team@fema.dhs.gov for more information.
Promoting DEI through Integrity
By: Loralyn “Lori” Smith
Having Integrity at work means that you are trustworthy and reliable, you practice and encourage open and honest communication, and that you are responsible for your actions. Integrity is based on values rather than personal gain. Simply stated…Integrity is doing the right thing (through your words, actions, and beliefs) when no one is watching.
What does Integrity in the workplace look like…
- Express the importance of Integrity; change comes through awareness.
- Adhere to Fair Compensation Methods; Integrity is not only about showing virtuosity. It also means treating everyone with equal importance.
- Maintain Transparency; the puzzle of fostering Integrity is transparency. And the task of maintaining transparency is mainly on the shoulders of leadership.
- Employee Engagement Programs: when every employee feels motivated and stays engaged, they are more aligned with the core values.
- Healthy Communication Practices: having good communication practices is necessary for establishing Integrity. A person's Integrity is often known in the way he or she communicates.
- Discourage Favoritism; favoritism arises when a deserving person gets neglected over someone who has a good relationship with the decision-makers. Favoritism in the workplace shouldn’t only be discouraged because it diminishes Integrity, but it also goes against workplace ethics.
Recommended Article: Famous Work Ethic Quotes to Boost Employee Morale
YouTube Video: Integrity Gets You Everything
Culture Improvement Site Launches for Employees
FEMA remains committed to understanding your lived experience in the workplace and promoting a professional, diverse, and respectful environment. We’ve released a second edition of the "Culture Improvement Action Plan" and a SharePoint site for you to find information about what we are doing across the agency and what you can do to help improve our culture and ensure our workplace is free of harassment and discrimination.
Explore the Culture Improvement site.
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Learn How to Provide Accessible Documents
To ensure full inclusion of people with disabilities, it is important to plan for, develop and provide accessible documents. The Section 508 Program is conducting weekly webinars on accessibility topics for electronic documents posted to a FEMA Website or shared with others.
Topics include: Microsoft Office, Adobe PDF documents, basic steps required to make an electronic document Section 508-conformant and accessible, and how to check your document for compliance.
To register for a webinar, please visit the Section 508 Training Calendar or contact the FEMA Accessibility Help Desk. Visit the 508 Accessibility Resource Center for additional information.
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Understanding Integrity in the Workplace
Many people are familiar with the term integrity, but not everyone understands what this means when it comes to the workplace. Integrity is a character trait that encompasses honesty, loyalty, dependability, sound judgment, and trustworthiness, even in times when these virtues are difficult to uphold. Here we explore what integrity means, the different types of integrity, and examples of integrity at work.
For more info: https://www.glassdoor.com/blog/guide/examples-of-integrity/
How to Build a Culture of Accountability in the Workplace
Accountability in the workplace means the buck stops with you. It’s not just about completing the tasks that are assigned to you; it’s owning the end result.
For more info: https://www.workpatterns.com/articles/accountability-in-the-workplace
The Importance of Honesty in the Workplace
Do your staff members really trust you? According to a survey by Harvard Business Review, 58 percent of employees would trust a stranger rather than their own boss. One way to build trust with your employees is to be genuine and honest in the workplace. These attributes will allow you to create a culture that drives business growth and fosters collaboration.
For more info: https://bizfluent.com/info-8375259-importance-honesty-workplace.html
December 1: World AIDS Day
World AIDS Day remains as relevant today as it’s always been, reminding people and governments that HIV has not gone away. Observed each year on December 1, it’s an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, show their support for people living with HIV, and remember those who have died from an HIV-related illness. Started in 1988, World AIDS Day was the first-ever global health day.
https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/library/awareness/wad.html
December 6: Eighth Night of Chanukah/Hanukkah
The eight-day Jewish celebration known as Hanukkah or Chanukah commemorates the rededication during the second century B.C. of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, following the Maccabean Revolt. Chanukah is observed with a nightly menorah lighting – by the eighth night, all lights are kindled.
https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/hanukkah
December 7: National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
On Aug. 23, 1994, the United States Congress designated Dec. 7 as National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. Each year, Pearl Harbor Survivors, veterans, and individuals from all over the world come together to honor and remember the 2,403 service members and civilians who were killed during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. A further 1,178 people were injured in the attack, which permanently sank two U.S. Navy battleships (the USS Arizona and the USS Utah) and destroyed 188 aircrafts.
https://www.nps.gov/perl/learn/historyculture/national-pearl-harbor-remembrance-day.htm
December 10: Human Rights Day
Human Rights Day is observed every year on December 10th – the day the United Nations General Assembly adopted, in 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The UDHR is a milestone document, which proclaims the inalienable rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being – regardless of race, color, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.
https://www.un.org/en/observances/human-rights-day
December 17: Career Story Resume Writing Education/Training Event
The Women's Forum, a FEMA Employee Resource Group, will be hosting a two-hour workshop that will help you craft your resume for your next career move. If you would like to attend this event, send an email containing your FEMA signature with the subject titled "June Training Event" to fema-womens-forum@fema.dhs.gov. The deadline for event registration is Friday December 17, 2021.
December 24 and 25: Christmas Eve and Christmas
Christmas is celebrated on December 25 and is both a sacred religious holiday and a worldwide cultural and commercial phenomenon. Christians celebrate Christmas Day as the anniversary of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, a spiritual leader whose teachings form the basis of their religion.
https://www.history.com/topics/christmas/history-of-christmas
December 26: Kwanzaa
The celebrations of Kwanzaa were started by Dr. Maulana Karenga, in 1966, who was the professor and chairman of Black Studies at California State University. The name comes from a Swahili phrase that goes “matunda ya Kwanza” meaning “first fruits.” Kwanzaa lasts from December 26 until January 1, and it is a week that values and celebrates African customs and culture.
https://www.calendarr.com/united-states/kwanzaa/
December 29: Wounded Knee Day of Reflection
South Dakota observes December 29 as Wounded Knee Day of Reflection – this day is dedicated to the remembrance of and reflection on the massacre of nearly three hundred Lakota people by soldiers of the United States Army that occurred at Wounded Knee in 1890.
https://www.history.com/news/remembering-the-wounded-knee-massacre
December 31: New Year’s Eve
New Year’s Eve, December 31, is a major celebration in the USA and is one of the world’s most celebrated holidays. Walter Palmer, inspired by the maritime tradition of dropping a time ball so sailors could adjust their chronometers while at sea, devised the idea of dropping a lit-up ball on New Year's Eve. The tradition of dropping the ball in Times Square has been a tradition ever since 1907.
How did New Year's eve start? The history and tradition explained (mic.com)
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Seasoned Employee Resource Group (SERG)
The Seasoned Employee Resource Group (SERG) will be holding our next meeting on December 7 at 1pm. This meeting will also be a cross-FERG meeting where we are inviting the Native American FERG and the National Service Alumni FERG to join us. Our agenda for this meeting will include SERG’s 1st “Year at a Glance,” an open discussion on how we might Capture and Collect “Best Practices” Ideas from those seasoned employees with years of work/life experience (working in conjunction with FEMA’s Continuous Improvement Program), and establishing cross-FERG collaboration and partnerships – to include fostering mentoring opportunities. In addition, the SERG will be participating in Region III’s “Equity Day” on December 7 which will, in part, be looking at how we can improve equitable outcomes internally at FEMA and externally with respect to the assistance we provide to the public. Lastly, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) will be interviewing the FERGs (including the SERG) as part of the GAO’s ongoing audit on “FEMA’s Workplace Climate and Culture.”
For more information: Seasoned Employee Resource Group (SERG) (sharepoint.com)
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Women's Forum
Know where you want to go next in your career? Ready to move up in the organization but not sure how? Is your resume telling the story of what you are doing now and not where you want to go?
This two-hour workshop will help us think through our next career moves and how to craft resumes that get us there. We will be workshopping your current job on your resume, be prepared to share with others.
When: Wednesday December 29, 2021
Time: 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm EST
Location: (Zoom)
Registration Deadline: December 17, 2021
Interested in attending this event? Send an email with your FEMA signature titled "June Training Event" to fema-womens-forum@fema.dhs.gov.
If you require a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or captioning to fully participate in this training, please email fema-womens-forum@fema.dhs.gov as soon as possible. Note that accessibility features are limited on mobile devices, if you require a reasonable accommodation, please plan to join the event on a laptop or PC.
For more information: Pages - Women's Forum (sharepoint.com)
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FEMA is committed to maintaining a workforce that reflects our Nation’s rich diversity and capitalizes on the varied cultural, professional, and ethnic backgrounds of our workforce and those we serve. The commitment to diversity and inclusion requires creating sustainable programs and initiatives to ensure the retention of a diverse and inclusive workforce.
In addition to the programs sponsored by the Office of the Chief Component Human Capital Officer (OCCHCO), the Office of Equal Rights (OER), and the Inclusive Diversity Council (IDC), FEMA formalized the policies and procedures for FEMA Employee Resource Groups (FERGs).
FERGs are voluntary, employee-led groups that serve as a resource for FEMA employees to foster a diverse, inclusive workplace aligned with FEMA’s mission and values. FERGs will assist with recruitment and outreach events; organize networking and mentoring opportunities; and host commemorative, cultural, educational, and social events. FERGs offer a valuable mechanism to foster innovation, facilitate communication between employees and senior leaders, and provide employee development opportunities.
The successful implementation of FERGs require the active support of senior leaders. Each FERG must be sponsored by a Senior Executive Service member and two co-sponsors to manage FERG activities. All employees are encouraged to participate in a FERG to help FEMA achieve its diversity and inclusion goals.
For a list of all FERGS, visit:
https://usfema.sharepoint.com/teams/OCCHCOHCI/DIEE/IDC/FERG/Pages/default.aspx
The ORR Core Values Team appreciates your participation and feedback. We want our content to be concise, interesting, and useful. Please send your comments, ideas, and content to the ORR Core Values Team inbox at: FEMA-ORR-CoreValues-Team@fema.dhs.gov
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