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US federal judge allows overtime pay case to proceed; Canada’s Indigenous training attendance sinks: management & workforce news in brief
Global Government Forum’s weekly digest of the news you need to know but might have missed. US judge challenges regulation by letting federal employee overtime case proceed A US federal judge has given the greenlight to a lawsuit brought by a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) employee in a bid to claim overtime payments for…
Black public servants in Canada having to ‘recount trauma’ in US$1.97bn racism lawsuit, says organiser
One of the organisers behind a legal case alleging black public servants suffered racism over a period of five decades has accused the Government of Canada of delaying the case and causing plaintiffs to recount the trauma they had faced. Since the case against the federal government was filed in December 2020, the number of…
‘Much more needed’ to combat racism and improve diversity in Canadian public service, says chief
The Canadian public service has reiterated its commitment to confronting racism and becoming more equitable, diverse, inclusive and accessible in its annual report to prime minister, Justin Trudeau. Making the issue “everyone’s priority” is one of three key action areas pinpointed by cabinet secretary and clerk of the Privy Council, Janice Charette. Though much has…
Institutional racism: a global government problem?
In recent years and decades, a number of civil services have been accused of institutional racism. Some countries have since taken steps to ensure the government workforce is ethnically diverse and inclusive. Karen Day explores what measures Canada, the US, the UK, and New Zealand have taken On 21 September 2022, a C$2.5bn (US$1.97bn) class-action…
New Canadian government faces US$1.97bn class action lawsuit
After the polls close in the Canadian federal election scheduled for 20 September, the newly-formed government will have to decide its next steps on a C$2.5bn (US$1.97bn) class action lawsuit brought by its black federal workers. Alleging decades of systematic and institutional racism, the class action – filed in the Federal Court of Canada in…
The growing friction between bilingualism and other forms of inclusion in Canada
A letter from Ottawa: The state’s commitment to the French and English languages is rubbing against hopes for greater inclusion, writes Michael Wernick, former clerk of the Privy Council. But there is hope that technology could smooth the path forward In mid-April Canada’s attention is fully seized by the race to suppress an alarming third…
Trump clamps down on diversity training
President Trump has issued an executive order banning government contractors from providing employees with certain forms of diversity training. The order forbids what it calls “divisive concepts”, such as training sessions based on “race and sex stereotyping and scapegoating”. The order prohibits training that implies that the US is a racist or sexist nation; that…
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Discover independent research reports, surveys and in-depth studies from Global Government Forum and knowledge partners, exploring the most important issues facing governments and the public sector. Our research provides practical insights and evidence-based recommendations for senior civil servants, policymakers and public sector leaders. Our reports combine exclusive survey data, expert analysis and interviews with government leaders from around the world to help public sector organisations improve performance, inform policy and deliver better outcomes for citizens.
Empowering Public Servants to Make Confident, Informed Decisions with Data and AI
Governments around the world are working hard to extract – and act upon – the insights held in their vast data stores, and to embrace AI and the promise it holds for innovation and transformation. At the same time, economic pressures and constrained budgets are compelling public servants to do more with fewer resources, while governments are called to respond quickly and effectively to complex challenges.
Against this backdrop, data and AI can help those working in government both to streamline their workflows and make fast, informed decisions. This in turn drives efficiency and can unlock productivity gains – and ultimately lead to improved performance and better services for citizens.
Global Government Forum surveyed over 600 civil servants worldwide to understand how data and AI are being used in government decision-making and where there are further challenges and opportunities.
Read this report for insight into how governments are using data and AI in decision-making today and the potential for the future; the major challenges to using data and AI in decision-making and how to overcome them; and how AI agents can be used in decision-making.
The report includes examples of data and AI in decision-making from countries including the UK, Ireland, Australia, Canada, Singapore, the US, and more.
(Published September 2025)
Making Government Work: Five Pillars of a Modern, Effective Civil Service
Around the world, governments are dealing with substantial challenges – from economic stagnation to the transition to net zero, military conflicts and cyber threats. Governments are also grappling with shifting geopolitics and the rise of populism – and all of these factors are set against the emergence of new technologies, including generative AI, which have the potential to fundamentally transform every aspect of society, but which also pose huge ethical, security and regulatory questions for the public sector.
The Making Government Work: Five pillars of a modern, effective civil service report was undertaken to help identify the key characteristics needed in a modern public service, with priorities ranging across leadership, digital service delivery, workforce development, cross-departmental integration, and citizen trust.
This report has been covered by publications around the world including the Financial Times, BBC Radio 4’s PM programme, Ottawa Citizen, Fed Manager, the Mandarin and the i newspaper.
(Published August 2024)
The Future of the Finance Ministry
From setting tax rates and financial regulations that create the ground rules for national economies, to allocating – and tracking – spending for public services, finance ministries occupy an essential role at the centre of government. Geopolitical crises have reinforced the importance of finance ministries, as they tackle both immediate shocks and long-term trends such as ageing populations, the digital transition, and the impact of moves to net zero.
Against this backdrop, this global research explores what the future finance ministry looks like and how to prepare for it.
Based on interviews with 10 senior leaders from finance ministries – led by John McCarthy, chief economist in Ireland’s Department of Finance, working with Ian Hall, editor, Global Government Finance, and Richard Johnstone, executive editor, Global Government Forum – the study identifies four key themes: the evolving role of the finance ministry in response to uncertainty; the shift to more flexible finance systems that support outcomes; digital transformation and the growth of AI; and the battle for talent and trust.
(Published May 2026)
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