GSA Daily Work Reports Under Threat of Discipline: Should You Comply?
GSA daily work reports are back in the news, and if you remember the "five things" emails, this one will sound familiar. Only this time, the reporting is every single day, and it comes with a warning about discipline. Here is who is affected, whether you should comply, and what it means for the rest of the federal workforce.
What Has Been Reported
Nextgov/FCW and The Washington Sun obtained emails sent to more than 200 employees at GSA's Technology Transformation Services. Starting Monday, November 9, employees must email what they worked on, what they plan to work on tomorrow, and any blockers by 6 p.m. local time every day. The email also says that failure to comply may result in adverse action.
Who Is Affected Right Now
So far, the reporting points to one office at GSA, not the whole government. If you work somewhere else, nothing here changes your obligations today. But if your office starts something similar, you will want to know how to respond.
If You Are in That Office: Comply and Keep Records
Our advice is to comply, every day, on time. Failure to follow instructions is one of the easiest charges for an agency to prove, and the general rule in federal employment is obey now, challenge later. Do not hand the agency a clean case over an email.
- Keep each report accurate.
- Save a copy of every report you send.
- If you are in a bargaining unit, ask your union whether this requirement was bargained.
Why Daily Reporting Under Threat of Discipline Is a Bad Idea
A 2023 meta-analysis of workplace monitoring research found that monitoring did not improve performance. What it increased was stress. Consider the stated purpose, which is finding blockers. Nobody is likely to admit a blocker in an email that comes with a discipline threat, and the biggest blocker may be the daily reporting email itself. The result is that you do not get honesty. You get people writing for the report instead of doing the work.
The Practical Takeaway
If this affects you, comply, keep your own copies, and ask questions through your union or a qualified attorney before you respond to anything that looks like a proposed discipline. Is a daily report accountability or micromanagement? We would like to hear how it looks from your desk.
If this bothers you, text RESIST to 50409 and tell Congress.
If your agency is rolling out new rules and you want to stay ahead of them, sign up for our free newsletter.
Legal Disclaimer: This content is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Federal employment situations are fact-specific and time-sensitive. Please consult a qualified federal employment attorney about your specific situation. You can contact Southworth PC at attorneysforfederalemployees.com.