Frequently Asked Questions: Workforce Planning

How do I know if my organization’s workforce strategy needs to be refined? Have there been changes in the workforce that would cause the strategies to need revision?

Getting Started: Strategic Workforce Plan and Template

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How do I know if my organization has met its objectives? Did the IC complete its action plan on time?

Getting Started: Strategic Workforce Plan and Template

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How will my organization define what success looks like?

Getting Started: Strategic Workforce Plan and Template

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How can I improve the diversity of my workforce through workforce planning practices? Where do I need to consider adjusting recruitment/other human capital strategies to support diversity and inclusion?

Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

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How are competencies being updated to reflect the changing business environment?

Competencies Overview Guide

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What competency gaps exist in my workforce?

Competencies Overview Guide

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How do I determine what workforce my organization will need in the future?

Getting Started: Strategic Workforce Plan and Template

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How can I leverage data/analytics to identify future needs?

• NIH OHR SmartHR Workforce Analytics Module
• NIHTC Course Link: HR SAID Data Training Module 2

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What recruitment flexibilities/mechanisms are available to me to hire the talent that I need?

Contact OHR Client Services Division or OHR Corporate Recruitment Team

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Are there Key or Mission-Essential Positions with high turnover / low engagement rates?

Mission-Essential and Key Positions Guide

• Key and Mission Essential Positions Overview
• Key and Mission Essential Positions Guide
• NIH WFP WG

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Why should I identify key positions or mission-essential positions/functions? What criteria should I use?

• Mission-Essential and Key Positions Guide
  • Key and Mission Essential Positions Overview
  • Key and Mission Essential Positions Guide

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How do I identify meaningful actions to address employee engagement challenges?

• PPS Action Planning Guide
  • Facilitation Fundamentals
  • NIH WFP Toolkit_Action Planning Guide
  • Sample Action Planning Agenda
• Sample Engagement Action Plan
• Stakeholder Engagement Plan
• NIH Employee Engagement Site
• SmartHR Exit Survey Action Planning Module

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How do I better assess who in my workforce may be leaving or who may want to leave?

Stay Interview Guide

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What are some recommended strategies (promising practices) around employee engagement? How do I better retain people?

• Stay Interview Guide
• NIHTC Motivating and Engaging Federal Employees Course
• NIH Employee Engagement Site
• HR Action Planning Module
• Contact the NIH Employee Engagement Liaisons (NEEL)

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What should I do to prepare for a known upcoming departure? How do I backfill? What do I need to do to prepare a successor for success in the position?

• Transition Interview Guide
  • Transition Planning Interview Guide
  • Transition Planning Interview Toolkit
  • Transition Planning Interview Guide Process
  • Transition Interview Guide Instructions for Interviewer
• Transition Plan Template
  • Staff Transition Plan Overview
  • Staff Transition Plan Template
  • Job Aid-Conducting Transition Meetings With Employees

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How do I deal with the retirement wave? What strategies can I implement?

• Transition Interview Guide
  • Transition Planning Interview Guide
  • Transition Planning Interview Toolkit
  • Transition Planning Interview Guide Process
  • Transition Interview Guide Instructions for Interviewer
• Transition Plan Template
  • Staff Transition Plan Overview
  • Staff Transition Plan Template
  • Job Aid-Conducting Transition Meetings With Employees
• SmartHR Action Planning Module

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Who will be retirement eligible in the coming years? Of those, how many are actually likely to retire in that period?

• NIH OHR SmartHR Workforce Analytics Module
• Contact the NIH WFP WG

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What is the current distribution of employee years of service?

nVision HR (Standard Report: Onboards by HN)

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Can the workforce be arranged differently to better facilitate workload coverage?

Position Analysis Guide

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What new ways of working or skill mix would aid in recruitment?

• Position Analysis Guide
• Contact OHR Client Services Division

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Are there local recruitment sources that can provide top talent?

Contact OHR Corporate Recruitment Team

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How will turnover of key staff affect your organization's ability to deliver services?

• Transition Plan Template
  • Staff Transition Plan Overview
  • Staff Transition Plan Template
  • Job Aid-Conducting Transition Meetings With Employees
• Transition Interview Guide
  • Transition Planning Interview Guide
  • Transition Planning Interview Toolkit
  • Job Aid-Conducting Transition Meetings With Employees

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How many employees are at each organizational level?

nVision HR

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How well does the current workforce align/support your business strategy?

Contact the NIH WFP WG

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How do I get my scientific workforce to buy in to proactive workforce planning activities?

Getting Started: WFP Business Case Overview and Template

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