Vermont Legislature to Consider Statewide Ombuds Program

Earlier this week, Xusana Davis, the State of Vermont’s Executive Director of Racial Equity, submitted her annual report to the state legislature assessing progress on racial equity efforts. In that report, Davis proposes creating an independent, state-level Office of Collaborative Action and Ombuds Services. According to the report the new program would "fill an unserved gap between the portfolios of the Ethics Commission, the Human Rights Commission, the Chief Performance Office, the Chief Operating Officer, and the Department of Human Resources. 

The report cites Ombuds standards from the ABA, IOA, and USOA, and references existing governmental Ombuds programs in the State Department, BLM, Department of the Interior, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, FDA, and other states. The report suggests that the state would benefit in the following ways: 

• Risk mitigation: The cost of workplace conflict is nearly $400 billion per year in the U.S. Ombudsmen help organizations anticipate and avoid risk, litigation, and costly damage to brands and reputations. The parties who are “at the table” do their best to represent the interests of those who are not, but competing priorities sometimes leave some people feeling ignored. Companies with highly engaged employees experience 10%-15% higher profits. By contrast, more than $144k per day is lost due to conflict, miscommunication, and poor decision-making. Ombudsmen build employee loyalty and a culture of engagement that can save costs and improve workplaces.
• Alternative dispute resolution: As described by the U.S. Department of State, “When these problems defy easy categorization as potential grievances, EEO issues, or IG matters, that is precisely when you should call on the Ombudsman.” Visiting an Ombudsman doesn’t trigger a formal investigation that is often typical of HR or legal processes. Speaking with an Ombudsman is always off-the-record. 
• Stronger policy: An Ombudsman serves as a listener and sounding board for new ideas, initiatives, and proposed complex and high-stakes actions. 
• Good governance: An entity that is independent, impartial, confidential, and informal will look objectively at the practices and policy of state government and identify remedies or improvements to improve outcomes for leaders, staff, and community. [citations omitted]

At least four positions are proposed for the program: the Ombuds; a Mediator/Facilitator; a Navigator/Educator; and an Administrative Assistant. The budget for the combined Office of Collaborative Action and Ombuds Services was estimated at $750,000 to $1,000,000 per year. The Vermont legislature has not yet taken up the proposal. (Vermont EDRE 2026 Report.)