Congress Members Honored for Exceptional Workplace Cultures

The Congressional Management Foundation (CMF), a strategic affiliate of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), recognized members of Congress at the Democracy Awards ceremony for their outstanding workplace cultures and other non-legislative achievements.

CMF works with congressional members and their staffs to improve office operations and boost their interactions with constituents. The goal is to make Congress more accountable, transparent and effective and to inspire trust from a more informed public.

Since 2011, SHRM has collaborated with CMF on the Life in Congress Project, which explores people management issues in Congress and identifies ways to make Capitol Hill a better place for lawmakers and staff to work.

“When you consider that adults spend 90,000 hours of their lifetime at work—and for Hill staffers, it’s likely more—you can understand how work impacts and shapes our personal lives for good or bad,” noted Chatrane Birbal, SHRM’s director of policy engagement, at the Democracy Awards ceremony on June 20. “What happens at work flows out into the world and into families, communities and society at large.”

[SHRM members-only toolkit: Understanding and Developing Organizational Culture]

Birbal presented the “Life in Congress” Workplace Environment Award to a member of each congressional chamber. The award honors members whose offices empower employees, encourage professional development, demonstrate flexibility in workplace rules, and consistently use core values to guide communications and decisions.

SHRM believes that social change begins in the workplace and that the best cultures:

• Are driven by a strong mission, purpose and guiding principles.
• Stifle bad behaviors like harassment, discrimination and exclusion.
• Focus on personal and professional development.
• Attract employees who share the same values.
• Encourage people to bring their best selves to work.

“That’s what this award recognizes and honors,” Birbal said as she presented the 2019 Life in Congress awards to Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, and Rep. Salud Carbajal, D-Calif.

Crapo’s office was honored for creating a positive environment of inclusion, recognition and dedication. Crapo’s practice of open collaboration contributes to a positive workplace that allows staff to perform their responsibilities in consultation with the senator and senior leadership.

Notably, Crapo has been paying office interns since 1993 when he served in the U.S. House of Representatives. Crapo also looks to promote and hire from within and often recruits entry-level staff from the office’s most recent class of interns. Low turnover helps existing staff to effectively mentor and train new hires.

Carbajal’s office was recognized for demonstrating a commitment to creating a positive and flexible workplace that shows appreciation for staff members’ hard work, professional growth and personal well-being. In particular, Carbajal encourages and empowers his management team to offer flexible workplace options and professional development opportunities for staff. His office provides flexible work hours to fit staff members’ child care, educational and other needs.

Carbajal is known to take time to learn about each intern’s background and career goals, mentor each intern class, and personally call colleagues to recommend outstanding interns in final rounds of interviews.

“Positive workplace cultures are only possible through intentional, goal-driven efforts,” Birbal said, noting that culture is reinforced from the top of the organization.

“When senators and representatives get it right, especially in the high-activity, high-stakes policymaking environment, they really are creating a better world,” she said.

Past recipients of the Life in Congress award include Reps. Susan Davis, D-Calif., and Dave Reichert, R-Wash.

[Visit SHRM’s resource page on organizational culture.]

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