October 20, 2017

U.S. Park Service Plans to Grow Ombuds Program

Following a recent survey finding that nearly 40 of employees had suffered sexual harassment in the past year, the National Park Service will hire more Ombuds.  Acting NPS Director Mike Reynolds said the department will grow the Ombuds program as part of a range of services for employees to raise concerns.  

The NPS Ombuds program was established in 2016 and is staffed by Scott Deyo and Segal Shoham.  (Payson Roundup.)

Related posts: National Park Service Said to be Considering OmbudsNational Park Service Appoints Experienced Ombuds to Open New Office
Senator Wants U.S. Parks Ombuds to be More of a Resource for Sexual Harassment Matters.

2 comments:

  1. This is awesome! I am so excited to hear how much the field has grown over the last five years. Currently working in organizational conflict, but working towards IOA standards- I believe this benefits all stakeholders. Excellent!

    Emily Heizer

    ReplyDelete
  2. The reporter in the original article may have been referencing a public release from the head of the Interior department*, who said that they plan to increase employee and labor relations staff "with ten additional employees and the Ethics staff with four additional employees to improve the capacity to investigate and resolve allegations and incidents of harassment efficiently." It also states they plan to "support its successful Ombuds program, develop additional job aids and resources for supervisors, improve internal communications structure, deploy a team of peer and professional facilitators, and continues to identify and tackle the root causes of harassment and hostile work environments in its organizational culture." Had there been a specific plan to increase the ombuds office, it seems they would have been explicit as they were with LER & ethics.

    * https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/secretary-zinke-outlines-action-plan-combat-harassment-and-discrimination

    ReplyDelete