Washington: The Congressional Management Foundation (CMF) has awarded Indian American Congressman Ro Khanna with a Democracy Award for excellent achievement in the field of "Life in Congress"- Workplace Environment.
According to a news release from his office, the "Life in Congress" Workplace Environment category honours offices that have implemented formal policies and informal cultures that improve the work-life balance and professional growth of their workers. Khanna, who represents the Silicon Valley-based 17th District of California, has received two Democracy Awards. The "Constituent Service" category of the 2019 Democracy Award was won by his office.
“It’s an honour to receive this award for best workplace environment in Congress. I want to congratulate my incredible staff for working alongside me to create a positive and inclusive work environment,” said Khanna.
“As a strong supporter of workers’ rights, it’s important to me to live my values and ensure that all employees in my office have fair wages and benefits and are treated with dignity and respect. I’m very proud of our team’s work over the years to make our office a top workplace on Capitol Hill. Each office is like a mini startup,”said Geo Saba, chief of staff in Rep. Khanna’s office. “There’s no centralised HR. This has given us the ability to be creative and reinvent what it means to work on the Hill.”
“This award is the result of the work and efforts of every single member on the team who contributed to reimagining our office policies and creating a healthy work environment,” Saba added. “I’ve never worked in a more fun, kind, and people-centered workplace. We celebrate each other’s wins and help one another work through challenges. I’m grateful to work, learn and laugh alongside such wonderful colleagues,” said Sam Elghanayan, legislative aide in Khanna’s office.