Tom A. Kosakowski's Blog (135)

California Pharmacists Association Creates Statewide ADR Program for Pharmacist Employees

CPhA has announced the creation of Ombuds program for employee pharmacists throughout the state. The CPhA Ombuds Employee Pharmacist Resource Program will provide serve as a resource for workplace issues such as lack of breaks, prescription quotas, or pressures to avoid counseling. CPhA CEO Jon Roth explained, “CPhA has struggled for years to create value for these pharmacists. This program will help them be better practitioners and…

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Added by Tom A. Kosakowski on January 12, 2011 at 2:30pm — No Comments

The Ombuds Year in Review: 2010

In the past year, IOA held its fifth annual conference, an attorney wrote the first guide for Ombuds, U.S. legislation created new federal Ombuds programs, FCO began its own training program, a campus suicide drew attention to the role of Ombuds in bullying cases, Cal Caucus resumed its annual meeting, nearly two dozen new offices opened, other Ombuds…

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Added by Tom A. Kosakowski on December 19, 2010 at 11:30am — No Comments

Canadian Ombuds Organizations Seek Submissions for Joint Conference

The Forum of Canadian Ombudsman and the Association of Canadian College and University Ombudspersons will hold a joint conference in Vancouver, BC, May 16-18, 2011. The theme is, "The Ombuds Office in Canada Today: Looking Towards Tomorrow."

Registration and hotel information will be released shortly. In the meanwhile, the Planning Committee seeks suggestions for general interest sessions and content focused…

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Added by Tom A. Kosakowski on December 16, 2010 at 12:29pm — No Comments

Ombuds job Postings for December 2010

The following are currently accepting applications for Organizational Ombuds:

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Added by Tom A. Kosakowski on December 8, 2010 at 7:17pm — No Comments

Ombuds Job Posting: Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers

ICANN has opened a search for an experienced professional Ombudsman. The winning candidate will have the responsibility of managing the Ombudsman conflict resolution program, fielding and resolving issues and complaints arising from the Internet community, and acting as a functional partner to augment and enhance the mission and goals of ICANN.

Applicants must have at least five years of recent experience as an Executive or Classical Ombuds… Continue

Added by Tom A. Kosakowski on November 23, 2010 at 5:13pm — No Comments

Coalition of Federal Ombuds Will Hold Open Meeting November 9, 2010

CoFO is inviting any federal ombuds or anyone interested in the work of a federal ombuds to an all-day conference next week. The meeting will be hosted by the Ombuds at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in Washington, DC and will feature leading Ombuds and experts from the federal sector.

The draft agenda includes:

Introduction from Wendy Kamenshine, CoFO Chair and Senior Ombudsman at…

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Added by Tom A. Kosakowski on November 4, 2010 at 5:30pm — No Comments

National ADR Expert Will Head University of Louisville's New Ombuds Office

Kentucky's flagship public university has appointed Tony Belak, a prominent mediation and dispute resolution expert, to head its Office of the Ombuds. Belak will take over from Dennis Hall, who has served as UofL's interim Ombudsperson since the office was established in 2009 in response to an embezzlement scandal involving a former dean and allegations of a broken grievance process.

As the Organizational Ombuds for UofL, Belak will provide… Continue

Added by Tom A. Kosakowski on October 27, 2010 at 4:30pm — No Comments

Education Law Expert Explains Why Schools Should Have Ombuds Programs

Education Law Expert Explains Why Schools Should Have Ombuds

In an article for the American School Board Journal, Edwin C. Darden says that, "one important way school districts can help residents feel heard is to appoint an official ombudsman." He notes that most school Ombuds work in large, urban…

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Added by Tom A. Kosakowski on October 25, 2010 at 5:55pm — No Comments

Ombuds Job Postings for October 2010

The following entities are hiring Organizational Ombuds:

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Added by Tom A. Kosakowski on October 25, 2010 at 5:52pm — No Comments

Update: BP to Close Its Ombuds Office

Various news agencies are reporting that BP will shutter its Office of the Ombudsman effective June 2011. The decision comes less than two weeks after the petrochemical giant announced it was setting up a new, beefed-up internal safety function and months after the company denied targeting the Ombuds for closure.

A BP spokesperson defended the decision and said, "It has always been our intent to internalize the employee concerns process… Continue

Added by Tom A. Kosakowski on October 12, 2010 at 11:00am — No Comments

Public Invited to Comment on Proposed SEC Ombuds Office

The Securities and Exchange Commission is calling for public commentary on proposed regulatory initiatives under the Dodd-Frank Act, including the new Ombuds for the Office of the Investor Advocate. Members of the public can express their view by email or an online form.

The new SEC Ombuds will be named by the head of the Office of the Investor Advocate, who is appointed by the SEC Chair. The Investor Advocate will be responsible for… Continue

Added by Tom A. Kosakowski on September 28, 2010 at 10:52am — No Comments

Loss of Public Education Ombudsman May be an Issue in Washington, DC School Board Election

The election of school board members in Washington, DC has returned attention to the public schools Ombuds Office that was shuttered in August 2009. Some school officials and activists say restoring the Office of the Ombudsman for Public Education is a crucial aspect of reform implementation for the next school board.…

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Added by Tom A. Kosakowski on September 26, 2010 at 4:00pm — No Comments

Ombuds Job Postings for September 2010

Currently open searches for Organizational Ombuds.

Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (Rockville, MD) -- Associate Director/Director Ombudsman
University of California (Berkeley, CA) -- Half-Time Assistant Ombudsperson…

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Added by Tom A. Kosakowski on September 24, 2010 at 1:00pm — No Comments

NPR Job Posting Highlights Duties of News Ombuds

National Public Radio is soliciting applications for the position of Ombudsman. This is one of the most high-profile News Ombuds in the U.S., and not the type of position for which there is often a public search. The job posting highlights the similarities and differences between Organizational Ombuds and News Ombuds.

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

The primary role of NPR’s Ombudsman is to…

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Added by Tom A. Kosakowski on September 17, 2010 at 12:30pm — 1 Comment

Recent Organizational Ombuds Job Postings

In the past several days, the following jobs have been posted at the Ombuds Blog:

University of Pennsylvania is hiring an Associate Ombuds. Applicants should have at least a master's degree and 5-7 years of relevant experience. Higher…

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Added by Tom A. Kosakowski on August 27, 2010 at 5:30pm — No Comments

Sobering Story of a Suicide Offers Glimpse Into Work of Ombuds

Last month, an editor of the renowned Virginia Quarterly Review took his own life after complaints of workplace bullying. An investigation by the Chronicle of Higher Education reveals that the situation was known to administrators at the University of Virginia and that the victim had sought assistance from the campus Ombudsperson. In a follow-up story by ABC News, the victim's sister shared phone records showing calls to the UVA Ombuds office less than two weeks prior the… Continue

Added by Tom A. Kosakowski on August 20, 2010 at 10:42am — 1 Comment

Navy Ombudsman Creed

This week, I came across the unofficial creed of the Navy Ombuds program. Written by Gayle Brinkley, it offers an apt description of most kinds of Ombuds work.

I am an Ombudsman

I am not a crutch.…

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Added by Tom A. Kosakowski on August 14, 2010 at 5:00am — No Comments

Forum of Canadian Ombudsman to Offer Training

FCO has published the agenda for its first-ever course on Ombuds fundamentals to be offered in Toronto, September 20 and 21, 2010. The two-day program for new and intermediate-level Classical Ombuds staff and complaint-handlers will feature nearly two dozen Canadian Ombuds. Many topics will be relevant also to the practice of Ombuds in other fields.

Day One

Welcome - Ian Darling, FCO…

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Added by Tom A. Kosakowski on August 13, 2010 at 1:00pm — 1 Comment

International Ombudsman Association Will Offer Beginning and Advanced Training in Toronto

IOA will offer training for Organizational Ombuds at the Hyatt Regency Toronto, October 25-29, 2010.

Sessions to be offered are:

Ombudsman 101 (October 25-27) -- A 2½-day introductory training program that covers the basic functions and skills of Ombudsmanry using an interactive format includes role play and encourages questions and discussion.
Ombudsman 101…

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Added by Tom A. Kosakowski on July 30, 2010 at 4:30pm — No Comments

Tenth ACR Conference Will Highlight Ombuds Issues

The Association for Conflict Resolution's tenth annual conference will include several sessions that Organizational Ombuds will find relevant, including:

Building a Conflict Competent Organization Phase II: What Practitioners, Organizations, and the Conflict Resolution Profession Can Learn and Apply in the Workplace (Session 4.13) -- How ConEdison built organizational conflict competence and provided…

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Added by Tom A. Kosakowski on July 27, 2010 at 5:00am — No Comments