OVERVIEW OF THE U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PEER SUPPORT WORKER PROGRAM

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Peer Support Worker (PSW) Program is an employee-developed and led, grass-roots effort designed to provide peer-to-peer support for USGS employees within field offices, science centers, and science-support offices across the Bureau. The concept of the PSW Program originated in 2016 by an “Anti-Harassment Action Team” that was assembled at the request of the USGS Director to evaluate harassment in the Bureau from the perspective of the employees. The team, now known as the USGS Civility and Inclusion Council, has continued their work today on various workplace culture issues, and has continued the leadership, management, and direction of the PSW Program, which grows annually and is in its fifth year of operation. The roles of a USGS PSW are to: 1) promote and facilitate awareness and education on issues in the workplace such as harassment, discrimination, diversity, inequity, inclusivity, biases, ethics, and scientific integrity; 2) provide guidance on available employee resources within the organization that can help address and mitigate these issues; and 3) provide peer-to-peer support within their immediate workplaces. The USGS PSWs also engage in a number of activities both across the USGS and within their local offices, such as facilitating education and awareness seminars on workplace culture issues, organizing training sessions and employee development, posting or distributing materials as part of office-focused workplace culture awareness campaigns, and working with managers and leaders to better support and engage employees and create a safe and inclusive work environment.