H.R. 5810 — Federal Supervisor Education Act

This section revises the federal supervisor training requirements under 5 U.S.C. 4121 (previously limited to agency management succession programs and basic manager training on performance issues, mentoring, and appraisals). It defines "supervisor" (to include supervisors, management officials under 5 U.S.C. 7103(a)(10), and others prescribed by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM)) and "program," and expands supervisor training to require (1) individual development plans covering nine specified topics (e.g., aligning performance goals to agency mission, addressing hostile environments or unacceptable performance, using probationary periods, and collaborating with human resources); (2) training on prohibited personnel practices under 5 U.S.C. 2302 and employee rights enforcement; and (3) identification of experienced supervisor mentors for new or underperforming supervisors. Training under these components must use adult learning principles and instructor-based methods (to the extent practicable); new supervisors must complete it within one year of appointment (extendable by OPM procedures) and every three years thereafter, with credit for similar prior training and agency measurement of effectiveness. Agencies must provide supervisors with lists of developmental opportunities and related policies; OPM must issue implementing regulations within one year of enactment (notwithstanding 5 U.S.C. 4118(c)), including compliance monitoring and effectiveness assessments. The amendments take effect and apply to supervisors appointed one year after enactment.

This section amends 5 U.S.C. Chapter 43 (federal performance appraisal systems) by inserting new section 4305 requiring (1) the Director of the Office of Personnel Management to issue guidance on competencies that supervisors (as defined in 5 U.S.C. §4121(a)) must meet to effectively manage and be accountable for employee performance in achieving agency goals and missions and (2) agencies to assess supervisors' performance and overall capacity using that guidance and any agency-specific competencies (redesignating former section 4305 as section 4306 and making conforming amendments to the table of sections and cross-references).