The Foreign Service Journal, May 2015

50 MAY 2015 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL One of AFSA’s key priorities, as reflected in its 2013-2015 strategic plan, is to improve the quality of work/life for Foreign Service employees at all of our foreign affairs agencies. This month, I discuss what AFSA has done at the Depart- ment of State. From making it easier to donate, receive or use leave to getting to and from work and taking care of one’s child, AFSA is there working on behalf of you and your family. New Employee Leave Bank: In March AFSA signed the charter as a found- ing member of the new employee leave bank (STATE 22056). The bank provides a new mechanism for employ- ees to donate and receive annual leave in addition to the existing leave transfer program. AFSA partnered with the two Civil Service unions, AFGE Local 1534 and NFFE Local 1998, to negotiate the most employee-friendly provisions possible, includ- ing waiving the caps on individual leave contributions to maximize the number of hours available in the bank. Dozens of employees have been able to take advantage of the bank since it opened for business in March. Short-Term Disability Insurance: Many AFSA members have expressed interest in third-party short- term disability insurance to cover maternity leave. AFSA Improving the Quality of Work/Life approached AFGE to learn more about its plan and see if it would be appropriate for our members located around the world. We also spoke with the American Foreign Service Protective Association, the third-party partner that offers the Foreign Service Benefit health plan, to see whether AFSPA might be able to offer a product for our members. We hope to be able to make an announcement about a new product offering soon. Extended Leave Without Pay: Spousal employment, an employee’s own profes- sional development and familial or personal obliga- tions are all valid reasons for requesting leave without pay. However, the current system limits such time to one year, and State often takes a narrow view in decid- ing which applications to approve. AFSA has advocated a more expansive program that would enable employees to take multiple years off and plan for that time off in advance. Such an extended leave- without-pay program could enable an employee’s spouse to accept a two-year assign- ment in the private sector, an employee to pursue a two-year graduate degree, or a colleague to care for a relative for multiple years without leaving the career and the Service they care so passionately about. AFSA worked closely with Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review Special Representative Tom Perriello and his office to include this initiative in the upcoming QDDR report. Child Care Expansion: AFSA has been a strong proponent of expansion of State’s child care options to meet the needs of its transient Foreign Service population. Recent AFSA and State Department surveys (for State results of the AFSA survey see the April 2015 FSJ , the State survey results are available on the intranet). have confirmed that child care availability is a factor in deciding whether to return to Washington, D.C. The surveys also show that employee satisfaction with the depart- ment’s child care facilities dropped significantly last year among generalist officers. AFSA’s number-one child care priority is expansion of FSI child care facilities, and the association is pleased to be working with the depart- ment on a project to double the number of childcare spaces there. FSI Transportation Options: Last summer AFSA inaugurated a new transpor- tation option for FSI stu- dents, staff and faculty—Cap- ital BikeShare. Thousands of bicycle trips have been taken since, resulting in improved employee wellness, reduced parking congestion and less carbon emission. AFSA also partnered with Arlington County to survey employees using FSI to see how we could make individ- ual commutes easier, shorter and more environmentally friendly. AFSA has proposed a number of improvements, including a new eastern cam- pus pedestrian and bicycle entrance, and is working with the department to incor- porate the ideas into future master plans and capital projects. AFSA’s work resulted in FSI being recognized as the department’s first build- ing to be acknowledged by Arlington County as a Gold transportation champion. AFSA’s focus on quality of employee work/life has already made it easier for employees to get to and from work and ensured that employees will have more options for leave, child care and transportation in the future. AFSA looks forward to hearing from you on this important employee prior- ity. n Next month: Congressional Advocacy STATE VP VOICE | BY MATTHEW ASADA AFSA NEWS Views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the AFSA State VP. Contact: asadam@state.gov | (202) 647-8160 | @matthewasada One of AFSA’s key priorities is to improve the quality of work/life for Foreign Service employees.