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Hi, welcome to the Dept of Interior Introduction
to the Ombuds.

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DOI is a complex organization with over 70,000
employees.

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We have a diverse and dynamic workforce and
we care about our mission.

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Our work can be intense, and let’s face
it, working with people can be tricky, even

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in the best of circumstances.

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Sometimes, you need someone to help you think
things through.

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An Ombuds is a conflict resolution specialist
that offers a confidential, informal sounding

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board to explore problem solving options.

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We are here to support people by listening,
asking questions, and providing information

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about resources.

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Most often people call us from somewhere private
like an office or a conference room.

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We also plan site visits throughout the department
and can with people in person.

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[An Ombuds sitting in a conference room with
a visitor]

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Ombuds: Before we start, I want to go review
my role.

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The ombuds office is confidential.

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I won’t share anything you say with anyone,
unless there is an imminent risk of serious

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harm.

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Employee 1: Oh no, it’s nothing like that,
but I definitely want to make sure the agency

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knows what I have been going through.

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Ombuds: Well, this is informal, so you aren’t
filing any kind of grievance or complaint

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by talking with me.

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The agency won’t know anything about this
unless you decide to raise it somewhere else

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and we can discuss those options.

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Employee 1: Ok, that sounds good.

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Ombuds: Good.

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I’m also neutral, so I’m not an advocate
for staff or for the agency.

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My role is to help you think things through.

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Employee 1: Oh, I could really use that.

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Ombuds: Alright, last thing.

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I’m independent.

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Because I’m not an employee of any specific
bureau, and I’m not part of management,

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that allows me to be confidential, neutral
and informal.

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From there, the conversation can go in many
different directions.

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People raise concerns in a variety of categories
such as supervisory and peer relationships;

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legal, compliance, and administrative issues,
mission and strategy concerns, safety and

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others.

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With each person, the Ombuds listens, helps
people get clear about their goals, and explores

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options.

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Communication comes up a lot, and we can help
coach people to have productive conversations.

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Employee 2: Oh I never thought about it that
way.

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I feel like I have a plan for how to have
this difficult conversation now.

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Here the kinds of options that people might
think through when speaking with an ombuds:

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Communicating directly to solve a problem,
Raising an issue up a supervisory chain, Requesting

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mediation or facilitation, Seeking more information,
contacting other resources such as Employee

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Assistance, Equal Employment Offices or pursuing
official complaints.

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There is no universal solution for each dilemma,
but the Ombuds strive to help individuals

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feel more confident about what steps they
want to take.

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Employee 3: After thinking it through, I am
going to follow up on a few resources that

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I learned from the Ombuds.

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Once I know more, that will help me decide
which way to go.

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These are some of the comments we have received
from individuals who contacted us:

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Employee 3: There are no easy answers and
this is really affecting my health.

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But the Ombuds was completely professional
and made the process a little less stressful.

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She connected me to some resources -- a great
service offered by DOI.

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Employee 2: I appreciate having a knowledgeable,
unbiased person to talk with about my concerns.

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The Ombuds office was calming, reassuring
and thoughtful in their responses and options

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they presented to me.

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Employee 1: I had never heard of the Ombuds
program until a friend recommended it.

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It was exactly what I needed at this time.

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Thank you!

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[Slide with each of our pictures on it with
our names]

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If you think you could use a sounding board
on a workplace issue, get in touch with us.

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Each agency at Interior has a designated Ombuds.

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All of our contact information can be found
on the CADR website: https://www.doi.gov/pmb/cadr/CADR-Staff