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Why Job Applicants are Frustrated by the State and Local Government Hiring Process, June 28, 2022.
New survey findings reveal that many workers are interested in public sector jobs, but get bogged down in the application phase.
The ‘Impossible’ Federal Standard that States Can’t Meet as They Work to Assist Low-Income Families, June 13, 2022
Critics say a longstanding performance metric for work participation that is part of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program is faulty and should be reformed.
A State Tries to Attract Public Workers Who Have Resume Gaps, May 24, 2022
In Utah, a first-of-its kind program provides training and mentorship for people taking government jobs after time away from the workforce.
How to Recruit and Manage Short-Term Workers, May 17, 2022
State and local governments have greater reliance on temporary staff, but challenges abound. There are new ways to make these arrangements work.
5 Ways to Overcome the Hiring and Retention Crisis Without Raising Pay, April 18, 2022
Higher salaries alone are unlikely to be a cure-all for public sector workforce shortages. Some states and localities are experimenting with other approaches for attracting and keeping employees.
Successful Strategies for Attracting and Retaining Public Employees, March 31, 2022
Some department vacancies are 20% to 30%, but governments are making headway filling positions and keeping workers with sign-on bonuses and big hourly wage hikes.
Collaboration Provides Effective Approach to State's Human Services, March 16, 2022
Oklahoma is on the cutting edge of a national trend bringing foundations, nonprofits and the Department of Human Services together to help residents in need.
Local Leaders Cannot Hide from Technology, February 25, 2022
The National Association of Counties is launching a new effort to help public sector officials better understand technology so they can make informed decisions about cybersecurity, as well as other topics such as budgeting and staffing.
How Cities and Counties are Dumping Abandoned Properties, February 14, 2022
Vacant building issues include unpaid property taxes, fires, and crime, but localities are making some progress reigning them in.
Governments Turning to Data to Find Solutions to Equity Issues, January 31, 2022
It’s easy for leaders to pronounce that they’re going to make a fairer state or locality. Here's how several states, counties and cities are utilizing information to achieve their goals.
The Public Sector Turnover Crisis, January 17, 2022
Rising turnover in state and local government has compounded problems of staff shortages that lead to mandatory overtime, employee burnout and compromised service delivery.
How to Effectively Manage the Growing Multigenerational Workforce, December 20, 2021
Baby boomers are becoming a smaller part of government staffs. An expert provides guidance on developing and retaining generations X, Y and Z.
A Pandemic Silver Lining: Public Meetings Have Become More Public, December 14, 2021
Covid-19 forced governments to have all virtual gatherings. There are disadvantages, government officials say, but a hybrid meeting model may be here to stay.
Grappling with the Public Sector Workforce Shortage Crush, November 29, 2021
When positions aren't appealing to applicants, sometimes the jobs themselves need to be changed.
The Government Job Application Drop-off is 'Snowballing', November 13, 2021
The data is alarming: Between fiscal 2019 and 2021, applications per job dropped 32% in states and localities, data shows. But there are strategies to counteract the trend.
Leveraging State and Local Buying Power to Improve Resilience and Accountability, October 25, 2021
Carefully spent, purchasing dollars can be one of the most important tools to help the nation combat its environmental concerns.
How the Pandemic can Help the Government Prepare for Future Crises, October 7, 2021
A new report provides a dozen lessons learned from Covid-19 that can help governments at all levels deal with diseases and natural disasters to come.
The Toll of Compassion Fatigue on Government Employees, September 28, 2021
Traumas can be contagious. When government workers are exposed to endless stories of pain, they can develop mental health and other problems.
'Public Health Should be 'Pivotal' Part of Emergency Response, September 13, 2021
Could reform of emergency call systems play an important role in improving safety, as well as police-community relations? A new 911 reform initiative is betting it could."
A Transparent Look at How Governments Are Spending the $350B in ARPA Funds, August 30, 2021
On Aug. 31, states and large localities had to provide reports on how they are allocating their federal funds. They also have to post them on transparency websites, which can help them learn from one another and coordinate spending plans.
The Public Sector Retirement Explosion, August 24, 2021
For years, human resources officials have worried about an alarming exodus of government retirees. Now it's here -- and it's because of Covid-19.
How Local Governments Can Prevent Building Disasters, August 9, 2021
Some governments are beginning to take steps to prevent the kind of tragedy that took the lives of nearly 100 people in a Surfside, Florida condominium collapse in June.
Legislators and Governors Battle Over Who Spends the Rescue Act Money, July 21, 2021
Power struggles between the executive and legislative branches are nothing new, but they are particularly vigorous with $350 billion in federal dollars at stake.
A Five Step Guide to Spending the American Rescue Plan Money, July 6, 2021
States and localities have an enormous opportunity to create a better future if they spend the federal rescue funds wisely. Here's how to do that.
How to Fix Skyrocketing Overtime, June 22, 2021
Overtime is often a necessary cost, but to deploy it effectively officials need reliable data to track where and how it is being used, and who is using it.
Racial Biases Persist in Public Sector Hiring. What Can Be Done? May 24, 2021
A new study shows that Black candidates are at an enormous disadvantage in making it through the government hiring process. But states and local governments are finding solutions.
Getting the Bosses of Procurement to Understand its Strategic Value, May 7, 2021
State procurement departments have been front and center during the pandemic. Once the crisis wanes, focus on procurement may diminish, but officials say it needs ongoing high-level attention.
Centralizing State IT Functions Gains Momentum, April 23, 2021
Connecticut is building an information technology organization within its government, joining a number of other states consolidating people, hardware and software to reduce costs and inefficiencies.
'A Troubling Trend': Independent State Program Evaluation Under Attack, April 16, 2021
Without a vote, the legislative leadership in North Carolina closed the state’s program evaluation division. Experts say the growing power of legislative leaders presents an accelerating danger for transparent, publicly available evaluation.
What Can Parks Do When Demand Rises as Budgets Decline, March 29, 2021
Though there may be greater appreciation for the nation’s parks, many are still fighting for funding. Some states are finding solutions.
If Your State Is Struggling With the Vaccine Rollout, This Is Probably Why, March 9, 2021
Intergovernmental relations are never easy. But they’re vital when confronting the logistical nightmare of inoculating a nation.
Equity Budgeting in Cities: Directing Dollars Where They're Needed Most, February 19, 2021
A growing number of cities are turning to their budget offices to help treat historically underserved communities more fairly.
Paid Sick Leave and the Prolonged Pandemic, January 29, 2021
State HR officials are concerned that if they can't find a way to extend paid sick leave benefits, employees will start showing up to work contagious.
How Downtowns Can Rebound After the Pandemic, January 12, 2021
They have to offer more than office space.
A Burnout Crisis Hits Government, December 22, 2020
A soon-to-be-released survey reveals some surprising findings about local and state employees' struggles and how helping them feel connected to each other can reduce burnout.
How to Fairly Use Algorithms to Make Tough Decisions, December 3, 2020
More Crucial Than Ever, EMS Agencies are Short Staffed and Overworked, November 19, 2020
Adequately staffing emergency medical services has been a problem for some time, potentially putting lives at stake. The pandemic threatens to make shortages worse.
Can Better Data Fix America's Policing Crisis? October 28, 2020
As society debates law enforcement reform, far better data is necessary to provide a roadmap for future changes.
The Draining of State Rainy Day Funds, October 14, 2020
At least ten states have already tapped their emergency reserves, even as budget experts expect the worst revenue declines caused by the coronavirus pandemic to come in the months and years ahead.
Why We Need to Pay Attention to Police Officers' Mental Health, October 9, 2020
A new study found that as police are under more scrutiny than ever, their mental health struggles remain profound.
Shrinking State and Local Government Office Space, September 9, 2020
With state and local officials searching for ways to cut budgets, many are looking to reduce how much real estate they occupy.
What Happens Next With Affordable Housing? August 20, 2020
States and local governments already haven't been investing enough to help build housing that poor families, and even middle class families, can afford. And now funding could be yet another victim of the coronavirus.
The Escalating Crisis in Police Hiring, August 6, 2020
As revenues drop and passionate debates over police mission, budget and purpose continue, cities still face the arduous task of recruiting top-notch candidates.
The Poor Performance of Performance Contracts, July 21, 2020
States and local governments have embraced "performance contracts," requiring contractors to meet certain objectives. Too often, however, they don't actually check on the success in meeting these goals.
Can Civilian Oversight Change Police Behavior, July 9, 2020
Cities across the country are looking at creating police oversight bodies. That makes questions about their efficacy and value more important than ever.
Kansas City Employees: 'Please Don't Rush To Reopen . . .', June 17, 2020
What are public sector employee concerns about the return to work? Kansas City has a better idea than many other local governments based on multiple employee surveys.
Pandemic Aid: What Can We Learn From the 2009 Stimulus, June 10, 2020
Fiscal stability will be more attainable by paying attention to experts who helped the country out of the Great Recession.
The Hidden Crisis: Caring for Vulnerable Adults at Home During the Coronavirus, May 15, 2020
Faced with fears of contagion and shortages of personal protective equipment, home and community care workers and providers struggle to serve a vulnerable population.
'There's Never Been Anything Like This': Managing the State Employee Workforce, April 20, 2020
An interview about the challenges faced by human resource directors.
The Coronavirus Cyber Safety Challenge: 'New Opportunities for the Bad Guys', April 16, 2020
State and local governments confront multiple technology security issues as they deal with proliferating attacks and a disease-transformed work environment.
Lessons From States that Embraced Telework Before the Coronavirus, April 1, 2020
How to avoid certain pitfalls now that many -- or most -- employees must now work from home.
How Ghosting Afflicts Public Sector Recruitment, March 15, 2020
Too often that perfect candidate just disappears.
The Human Cost of Missing Data in Prisons, February 26, 2020
Nowhere is good information about operations more critical than in prisons and jails. But too often states simply lack the kind of data that holds officials accountable.
Do Older Taxpayers Balk at Supporting Schools? February 12, 2020
In certain places opponents to new school taxes are finding success in courting older voters.
Whistleblowing Isn't Just a Federal Issue, January 28, 2020
An interview about the first comprehensive study of state whistleblower laws and how they protect -- or don't protect -- people who report wrongdoing.
How Governments are Recruiting Young Workers, January 14, 2020
From initiatives that allow new parents to bring babies to work to upgraded facilities, state and local governments are aiming to compete with the private sector.
What Stands Between Young People and Local Government Jobs?, December 23, 2019
Many millennials or members of Generation Z are interested in meaningful work that can help improve people's lives, but they don't necessarily see government jobs in that light.
Too Many Drugs, Too Little Data, December 9, 2019
How the fight against drug abuse has both been hampered and helped by data collection and analysis.
The Troubling Decline in City Revenue Growth, November 24, 2019
The economy continues to grow, yet cities anticipate revenue problems. How can both be true?
The New First Responder Crisis: Not Enough Dispatchers, November 12, 2019
What can governments do to recruit and keep the "first" first responders?
When the Savings Don't Materialize, October 22, 2019
Sometimes, state and local governments don't end up seeing the savings they've hoped for. Then what happens?
Articles from Government Finance Review
Augmenting Property and Sales Taxes, Government Finance Review, April 2022 (see page 70)
Spending Rescue Plan Money on Broadband: The Needs and the Challenges, February 2022 (see page 72)
The Growing Challenge of Producing ADA Compliant Accessible Websites, December 2021 (see page 72)
The Benefits and Challenges of Transparency Websites, October 2021 (see page 74)
Improving Procurement Practices in the Wake of the Pandemic, August 2021 (see page 90)
Data Governance: A Key to More Effective and Efficient Performance, June 2021 (see page 76)
Public Sector Working Space May Never Be the Same, April 2021 (see page 82)
Keeping Government Diversity Efforts Strong in Hard Economic Times, February 2021 (see page 76)
Keeping Nonprofits Strong, December 2020 (see page 68)
Bad Data: A Giant Challenge to Management, Budgeting and Policy, October 2020 (see page 76)
Whither Telework, Post Pandemic? August 2020 (see page 138)
Cybersecurity -- It's All About Relationships, June 2020 (see page 90)
Letting the Citizens Help Run the Store, April 2020 (see page 74)
Articles from Government Executive
Three Pandemic Lessons for the Next Crisis, October 20, 2021, by Katherine Barrett, Richard Greene and Donald F. Kettl, October 20, 2021.
Articles from HR News
THE B&G HR REPORT:
The B&G HR Report for July 2020 issue | Safety in Numbers: The Power of Data to Protect Public Sector Workers (available to IPMA-HR members).
THE B&G HR Report for February 2020 issue | In Workforce Planning Data is King (available to IPMA-HR members). Reprinted in our IBM Center blog with permission from HR News. (See below)
THE B&G HR Report for October 2020 | How Local and State Governments are Meeting the Employee Benefit Challenge, HR News, October 2020
Blog Posts from the IBM Center for the Business of Government
Government Ethos Can Be Just As Important as Statutes, March 23, 2022
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