I think we can all agree, it's been a tough couple of years for all of us. We have all faced a range of challenges from an unprecedented global pandemic to historic, destructive fire years. We face bitter political divisions, increasing quality of life challenges and a host of other issues in our nation and around our world. Many employees are encountering, and struggling with, difficult situations they have never seen in their lifetimes.

I understand that. We all deal with these personal stressors in very different ways. The majority of employees have found healthy ways to manage their stress and face it, or reduce it, in their lives. They're self-managing and serving with honor. Unfortunately, we have a few employees who are engaging in less constructive behaviors.

For the past several weeks, I have sadly noticed many instances of employees taking out their stress on fellow employees. I’ve seen some attacking others on social media on a variety of issues. I’ve heard reports of employees verbally attacking or acting insubordinate toward their supervisors over key agency expectations, like how to return to facilities after working from home for so long. We even have cases of employees sending threatening, abusive and unprofessional emails directly to their agency leaders and to their colleagues.

Listen: I understand high levels of personal frustration. But I do not understand—nor can any of us accept—employees engaging in unprofessional, abusive or other disruptive behavior against fellow employees. How we treat each other, even when we are in pain, defines our character as individuals and as an agency. If we have employees who cross the professional line while engaging with coworkers, subordinates or their leadership, please know we must—and we will—take actions to address this unacceptable behavior. It goes against all of our values of safety, and it goes against our value of service, and it goes against our value and code and commitments when it comes to caring for one another.

It’s only been a few years since we took the major step to create the Work Environment and Performance Office to ensure that we do everything we can and do a better job of creating a safe and respectful work environment for all of us. We have made progress. We have made great gains in meeting this goal through tireless efforts of the majority of our employees who live up to our values every day. I want us to continue moving in a positive direction where our actions mirror our agency core values and the concepts defined in This is Who We Are. Please remember: Self-management, serving with honor, great character and integrity are all part of public service. And that service starts with how we treat one another.

We have many resources [internal link] available to assist employees who may be having difficult times managing stress. We also are more than understanding of challenges you may be facing—and we are committed to engage with you to hear what’s on your mind. Supporting wellness for all of us is critical, so we can take care of ourselves, of our families and, as well, do our jobs and treat each other in the best way possible. So, please, join me: Let’s interact in a professional way and uphold the core values that have long made the Forest Service a leader in caring for the land, and the people, on behalf of the American public. Thank you.

Editor's Note: Have feedback, questions or suggestions for future topics? Email FS-Employee Feedback.