The success of any organization depends on the engagement and productivity of its workforce, and this is especially true for government agencies. The virtual conference on "Strengthening Government Workforce Engagement To Drive Results" aims to provide strategies, tools, and technologies to boost communication, culture, and mission delivery for hybrid employees.

Join us for a Welcome & Speed Networking session, where you will have the opportunity to connect with fellow attendees, share your experiences, and build new professional relationships. This session will provide an overview of the conference, highlighting the key topics and themes that will be covered over the two-day event.

You will also have the chance to hear from industry experts and thought leaders in government workforce engagement, who will share their insights on the latest trends, best practices, and tools to drive engagement and productivity in a hybrid work environment.

Whether you are a manager, HR professional, or government employee, this conference is designed to provide you with valuable insights and practical strategies for strengthening workforce engagement and driving results in your organization.

Employee voice is a critical aspect of organizational performance and engagement, and is central to creating a thriving and productive workforce. This session will showcase the experiences of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in using employee voice to enrich workforce conditions and support employee engagement in federal agencies.

Presenter James L. Egbert, Branch Chief of Human Capital Strategy at HHS, will share promising practices in focusing attention on the voice of the employee, reviewing the intent of federal regulations and priorities that underpin effective organizational management, and exploring tools and techniques for assessing the results of awareness-based action in co-creating a performance/engagement action culture.

This case study will provide attendees with valuable insights into how to leverage employee voice to create a more engaged and productive workforce, with practical strategies that can be applied in any organizational setting. The session is designed for HR professionals, managers, and executives seeking to create a culture of engagement and productivity in their organizations.

Key takeaways:

• Understanding the importance of employee voice in creating a productive and engaged workforce
• Learning from the experiences of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in amplifying employee voice
• Gaining insights into federal regulations and priorities that support effective organizational management

Exploring tools and techniques for assessing the results of awareness-based action in co-creating a performance/engagement action culture.

Creating a highly-engaged workforce is a critical aspect of building a successful organization. It requires leaders to foster an environment where employees feel supported, appreciated, and motivated to do their best work. In this session, Michael Hughes, Development & Inclusion Specialist at the U.S Department of Labor, will share his insights on how leaders can create and sustain a highly-engaged hybrid workforce.

Michael will begin by emphasizing that creating a positive work environment isn't rocket science, but it does take work, and it starts at the top of the organization. He will highlight the critical role that leaders play in fostering a culture of engagement and explain how three basic principles of effective communication can help leaders accomplish this.

First, Michael will discuss the importance of tying the work people do to the reason or purpose your organization exists. He will show how leaders can help employees understand the importance of their work and connect it to the broader mission of the organization.

Next, he will focus on ensuring that leaders' external messages are consistent with the organization's internal value system. He will share how leaders can effectively communicate their values and how doing so can create a sense of purpose and belonging for employees.

Finally, Michael will emphasize the use of modern forms of technology to maximize opportunities to make authentic connections with staff. He will discuss how leaders can leverage digital tools to stay connected with employees and foster a sense of community, even in a hybrid work environment.

By the end of this session, attendees will have a deeper understanding of how they can create a workplace where people love coming to work and perform at their best. They will leave with practical tools and tips to help them become more effective leaders and build a highly-engaged hybrid workforce.

Remote communication isn't going anywhere, even with Federal employees transitioning back into the workplace to varying degrees. Teams who embrace telework can’t afford to have their trust, communication, and effectiveness impacted by in-person vs. remote schedules; they just need their teamwork to work! This interactive workshop covers simple strategies to help leaders engage their workforce across hybrid, virtual, and in-person communication structures, sharing a game-based approach to building team member buy-in. When teams lean-in and engage with one another through the power competition, laughter, and play, their everyday tasks become less of a burden and more a shared achievement. Participants in this highly uplifting experience will learn:

- The human-centered “Rules of the Game” to apply to all internal comms and messaging, setting a baseline for why employees can feel safe to care and buy-in
- Techniques to turn communication and projects into a journey, harnessing the motivating power of quests and adventure within everyday tasks
- Ways to invite more laughter and optimism into the workday, leveraging the connection power of laughing WITH work's unexpected moments

As the pandemic continues to shape the way we work, many organizations are shifting towards a hybrid workforce model. This session will provide insights on how to successfully manage a hybrid workforce, drawing on the experiences of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Presenter Michelle Gebhart, a member of the Future of Work team at EPA, will share her experiences collecting employee feedback and establishing guidelines for the agency's hybrid workplace. Michelle will cover topics such as communication strategies, technology tools, and best practices for promoting collaboration and productivity among remote and in-office workers.

This session is designed for managers, team leaders, and HR professionals who are navigating the challenges of managing a hybrid workforce. Attendees will come away with practical tips and actionable strategies for creating a successful hybrid work environment.

Key takeaways:

• Effective communication strategies for remote and in-office workers
• Technology tools to facilitate collaboration and productivity
• Best practices for managing a hybrid workforce, based on real-world examples from the EPA

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As government agencies continue to navigate the challenges of the modern digital landscape, the need for innovative technology solutions to streamline and enhance communications has become increasingly critical. In this session, our sponsor will showcase their cutting-edge technology solutions designed to help government communications teams overcome these challenges and achieve greater success in their efforts.

Attendees will have the opportunity to explore the sponsor's suite of tools, which are specifically designed to address common pain points faced by government communications teams. These tools include robust social media management platforms, real-time analytics and reporting dashboards, automated content creation and distribution tools, and more.

Throughout the session, the sponsor will provide demonstrations of their solutions in action, showcasing how they can help communications teams maximize the reach and impact of their messaging across a variety of channels. Additionally, they will highlight the ease of use and accessibility of their tools, ensuring that even teams with limited technical expertise can quickly and effectively incorporate them into their workflow.

Attendees will leave this session with a deeper understanding of how innovative technology solutions can elevate government communications efforts and a firsthand look at the specific tools that can help them achieve their goals. They will have the opportunity to ask questions and engage with the sponsor to learn more about how they can integrate these solutions into their existing workflows to drive success

This workshop will explore the various elements of cultural awareness and inclusion in a hybrid work environment. We'll discuss the impact of globalism, changes in communication technology, and the importance of being mindful of our biases when interacting with colleagues from different cultures. We'll also dive into cross-cultural communication, understanding the importance of effective verbal and non-verbal communication styles.

Most people need to learn about hybrid work and cultural sensitivities because an inclusive environment is dynamic. It's constantly evolving, changing, and adapting to today's landscape of cultural norms. The key to creating an inclusive hybrid work environment is understanding how different cultures interact to better understand how to appropriately respect everyone’s unique perspectives, values, beliefs, and communication styles.

During this 30-minute workshop, we'll discuss globalism's impact, communication technology changes, and the importance of being mindful of our biases when interacting with colleagues from different cultures. We'll also consider the importance of effective verbal and non-verbal communication styles.

At the end of this workshop, you'll better understand what it takes to create an inclusive hybrid work environment that respects all cultures. You'll have the tools necessary to create an environment that encourages and promotes cultural sensitivity, inclusion, and collaboration. You'll also leave this workshop with a renewed commitment to fostering empathy and understanding amongst your peers.

As government agencies continue to adapt to a hybrid work environment, maintaining high levels of workforce engagement has become increasingly critical. In this panel session, three experienced government leaders will share their insights and strategies for boosting communication, culture, and mission delivery in a hybrid workforce.

Alan Karnofsky, Senior Deputy Director at the Department of Employment Services, Arlen Herrell, Deputy Chief Innovation and Partnership at the Department of Employment Services, and Eric Dilworth, Chief Human Capital Officer at the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, will share their perspectives on how government agencies can successfully navigate the challenges of engaging a hybrid workforce.

The panelists will discuss the strategies, tools, and technologies that they have found to be most effective in fostering engagement and driving results in a hybrid environment. They will also explore the unique cultural and communication challenges posed by hybrid work arrangements, and how agencies can overcome them to create a sense of connection and purpose among their employees.

Throughout the session, attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and engage with the panelists to learn more about their experiences and best practices. The session will conclude with a discussion of the key takeaways and actionable insights that attendees can use to strengthen their own workforce engagement efforts.

By the end of this session, attendees will have gained valuable insights from experienced government leaders on how to effectively engage and motivate a hybrid workforce. They will have a deeper understanding of the strategies, tools, and technologies that can help them drive results and achieve their agency's mission in a challenging and ever-changing environment.