As part of the "Life in Congress" project, CMF and SHRM regularly conduct training programs on workplace topics. These programs are open to all House and Senate staff and feature guest speakers from both on and off Capitol Hill. Recordings and related handouts from these webinars are posted below.

• Preventing Burnout: Using the Science of Stress & Energy Management to Reset and Recover
• Personal Safety & Preparedness
• Managing Trauma & Stress
• Managing Staff While Under Attack
• Managing Stress in Staff and Constituents During a Crisis
• Enhancing Workplace Flexibility in Congress
• Strengthening Employee Well-Being and Personal Resilience
• Improving Your Hiring Process
• Preparing For Your Next Job
• Creating a Positive Office Culture
• Performance Management
• Workflex Toolkit for Congress

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Preventing Burnout: Using the Science of Stress & Energy Management to Reset and Recover

This webinar, featuring special guests Dr. Sahar Yousef and Professor Lucas Miller of the Becoming Superhuman Lab, was held on Wednesday, May 5, 2021. The recording of this program was only available through May 22, but you can still access resources from the Becoming Superhuman Lab: 

1. Sign up for their monthly newsletter that summarizes new research and includes practical tips for the community (optional code "CMF") at: becomingsuperhuman.science/#resources and follow them on Instagram @becomingsuperhumanlab! 
2. Congressional staff also have exclusive access to a simple, 3-minute tool to quickly assess your burnout risk.

If you have any questions about this program, please contact Nicole Folk Cooper, CMF's Acting Vice President/Director of Research & Publications.

Personal Safety & Preparedness

This webinar, featuring former Rep. Brian Baird, Ph.D., and self-defense expert Derrek Hofrichter, was held on Wednesday, April 28, 2021.

• Slides: "Personal Safety and Preparedness" (PDF)(846 KB)
• go kit and real first aid kit checklists_brian baird_may 2021.docx(30 KB)

Managing Trauma & Stress

This webinar, featuring former Rep. Brian Baird, Ph.D., was held on Wednesday, April 7, 2021.

 Slides: Life in Congress: Managing Trauma & Stress - Handouts(1.38 MB)

Managing Staff While Under Attack

This webinar, featuring former Rep. Brian Baird, Ph.D., was held on Thursday, January 14, 2021.

Slides: Life in Congress: Managing Staff Under Attack - Handouts(1.24 MB)

Additional Handouts:

• #CapitolStrong - Resources to Support the Capitol Hill Community(126 KB)
• Building Resilience - Helping Workers Handle Stress for the Long Haul - SHRM (144 KB)
• The Legislator's Guide to Communicating with Distressed Constituents(466 KB)
• Managing Casework Burnout and Stress(412 KB)

Managing Stress in Staff and Constituents During a Crisis

This program was held on Friday, April 17, 2020.

Slides: Managing Stress in Staff and Constituents During a Crisis - Slides(2.33 MB)

Additional Handouts:

• The Legislator's Guide to Communicating with Distressed Constituents(466 KB)
• Managing Casework Burnout and Stress(412 KB)

Enhancing Workplace Flexibility in Congress

Slides: "Enhancing Workplace Flexibility - Slides (PDF)(1.44 MB)

Download the complete Workflex Toolkit for Congress along with customizable assessments and worksheets!

Strengthening Employee Well-Being and Personal Resilience

Handouts:

• Strengthening Emotional Well-Being and Personal Resilience - Slides(1.1 MB)
• The Legislator's Guide to Communicating with Distressed Constituents(466 KB)
• Managing Casework Burnout and Stress(412 KB)

Improving Your Hiring Process

Handouts: Improving Your Hiring Process - Slides (PDF)(1.83 MB) with additional guidance from the NALEO Educational Fund and the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies:

• Staff Up Congress - Best Practices for Fostering a Diverse and Inclusive Workplace in Congress (95 KB)
• Staff Up Congress - Why Every Congressional Office Should Cultivate Staff Diversity (336 KB)

Preparing for Your Next Job

Creating a Positive Office Culture

Handouts: Creating A Positive Office Culture (PDF)(1.28 MB)

Performance Management

Workflex Toolkit for Congress

Handouts: All of the handouts are available on the "Workflex Toolkit for Congress" page

More Information

If you have any questions about these programs or would like to suggest a topic for a future session, please let us know!