1. Truck Happy Researcher
Team Leader Training
Truck Happy Researcher
Normal slide navigation has been disabled in order to ensure this training works properly. Macros must be enabled to complete training.

2. Truck Happy Researcher
You have a researcher scheduled for TDY at a conference soon. The researcher does excellent work and is excited to be presenting a paper at a conference in Florida. As part of the TDY, the researcher requests to drive his brand new pickup to the conference. You check with admin support, and they tell you that the JTR allows (with supervisor’s permission) the individual to drive a POV on a TDY but the mileage paid will be no more than the cost of a flight. The mileage is 2,000 miles round trip; at 50 cents per mile the researcher initially thought he’d be getting $1,000 for the trip. But it turns out the airfare is $250 round trip and constructed cost with a rental car would bring the total for 2 days to $350. The researcher will get no more than $350. Your researcher wants to drive, and the chief agrees that it’s okay.

3. Q1. How might this look to others on the team?
Question & Answer Session
Q1. How might this look to others on the team?

4. Question & Answer Session
Q2. What responsibility do you have to keep people from hurting their own reputation?

5. Question & Answer Session
Q3. What might you have done that would have prevented any apparent jealousy or derogatory comments on the part of the team?

6. Q4. What question did you or the chief fail to ask?
Question & Answer Session
Q4. What question did you or the chief fail to ask?

7. Lessons Learned, Slide 1 of 2
The chief signs orders in DTS. It’s your responsibility as a Team Leader to make certain that the chief knows/understands all the pertinent information regarding a given TDY, as she is the responsible government official. Putting her in a bad position is not what you want to do. You should also make sure that the employee understands the rules and regulations regarding TDY especially any deviations from what would be considered the routine. Furthermore, you should make certain that each of your team members understands the rules and that you will be watching to ensure there is a level playing field on the application of the rules. TDY involves money, and the government doesn’t care if it’s $10 or $10,000 dollars; if it’s improper, it is punishable. You must always account for time in constructing travel when the time is during TOD (tour of duty), i.e., the employee is on salaried time. Would driving 1,000 miles take two days each way whereas flying would have taken 4 hours each way? Is the employee going to take annual leave for the extra time or request travel comp?

8. Lessons Learned, Slide 2 of 2
Rules help maintain good order and discipline; they minimize grumbling and jealousy when applied equally and fairly. Don’t bend them for one person and then enforce them strictly for another. Do your best to prevent even the perception of wrongdoing.
Keep a good understanding of the ebb and flow of attitudes on your team. Anticipate misunderstandings or misconceptions, and use good information flow to prevent them from happening.
Themes
ARI Knowledge; Integrity and Ethics; Setting Expectations