HomeAbout NRC

# Values

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC) vision is to "Demonstrate the Principles of Good Regulation (independence, openness, efficiency, clarity, and reliability) in performing our mission." The agency puts these principles into practice with effective, realistic, and timely regulatory actions, consistent with our organizational values and our open, collaborative work environment. For additional details, see the following topics on this page:
        - Principles of Good Regulation
        - NRC Organizational Values
        - Open, Collaborative Work Environment            - Open Door Policy
          - Non-Concurrence Process
          - Differing Professional Opinion Program 

## Principles of Good Regulation

As a responsible regulator with a very important safety and security mission, our values guide us in maintaining certain principles in the way we carry out our regulatory activities. These principles focus us on ensuring safety and security while appropriately balancing the interests of the NRC's stakeholders, including the public and licensees. The following table briefly describes these principles.

## NRC Organizational Values

In conducting all our work, we at the NRC adhere to the following organizational values. These values guide every action we take — from decisions on safety, security, and environmental issues; to how we perform administrative tasks; to how we interact with our fellow employees and other stakeholders. Our employees share their personal perspectives on the importance of these values in a 9-minute video, entitled *Living the NRC Values*, and the accompanying transcript.

## Open, Collaborative Work Environment

The NRC strives to establish and maintain an open collaborative work environment (OCWE) that encourages all employees and contractors to promptly speak up and share concerns and differing views without fear of negative consequences. An OCWE is a model workplace where diverse views, alternative approaches, critical thinking, collaborative problem solving, unbiased evaluations, and honest feedback are encouraged, recognized, and valued. Trust, respect, and open communication promote a positive work environment that maximizes the potential of all individuals and improves our regulatory decisionmaking.

NRC employees understand that everyone has a role in safety and that we are all responsible for promoting a strong safety culture and achieving our mission.

In reaching this goal, we must collectively act as a team and individually behave as NRC Team Players. In some organizations, being a "team player" means accepting management's views during the decisionmaking process and not "rocking the boat." Being an NRC Team Player does not mean those things. NRC holds its employees to a higher standard of involvement and responsibility for the decisions that are made. We expect all our employees "to get in the game" and routinely engage in informal discussions on issues with their coworkers and supervisors.

In addition to informal discussions, which should be sufficient to resolve most issues, individuals have various mechanisms for expressing and having their differing views heard by decision-makers.

## Open Door Policy

The NRC has an Open Door Policy that supports and allows any employee to initiate a meeting with an NRC manager or supervisor, including a Commissioner or the Chairman of the NRC, to discuss any matter of concern to the employee.

## Non-Concurrence Process

Employees may choose not to concur on any part of a document in which he or she has disagreed. In addition, employees may choose to use the Non-Concurrence Process and not concur on any part of a document undergoing review in which he or she has disagreed. The process allows employees to document their concerns early in the decisionmaking process, have their concerns responded to, and attach them to proposed staff positions or other documents to be forwarded with the position as it moves through the management approval chain.

## Differing Professional Opinion Program

The Differing Professional Opinion Program is a formal process that allows employees and contractors to have their differing views on established, mission-related issues considered by the highest level managers in their organizations, i.e., Office Directors and Regional Administrators. The process also provides managers with an independent, three-person review of the issue (one person chosen by the employee). After a decision is issued to an employee, he or she may appeal the decision to the Executive Director for Operations.

Page Last Reviewed/Updated Wednesday, January 31, 2024

Section Navigation

#### Navigation

          - The Commission
          - Organization & Functions
          - Governing Legislation
          - Plans, Budgets, & Performance
          - Locations
          - History
          - Values
          - Commission Direction-Setting and Policymaking Activities
          - Radiation Protection
          - Fire Protection
          - Safety Culture
          - How We Regulate
          - Emergency Preparedness & Response
          - Counterfeit, Fraudulent, and Suspect Items
          - Public Affairs
          - Congressional Affairs
          - International Programs
          - State & Tribal Programs
          - Alternative Dispute Resolution Programs
          - Privacy Program
          - EEO/Civil Rights Program
          - About the NRC & Your Community
          - Contact Us
          - Career Opportunities
          - Contracting Opportunities
          - Grant Opportunities
          - Generic Schedules
          - NRC at a Glance

#### Spotlight

#### Choose a Section

                - The Commission
                - License Renewal Generic Environmental Review
                - Job Openings
                - Palisades Restart
                - Environmental Justice 
                - Pilgrim Water Releases
                - Monticello Tritium Issue
                - International Strategy 2021-2025
                - Tribal Liaison Program
                - MAP-X
                - Transformation at the NRC - Updated
                - OIG Hotline
                - Rulemaking Activity
                - Commission Documents
                - Advanced Reactors
                - Nuclear Security
                - Strategic Plan

Page Last Reviewed/Updated Wednesday, January 31, 2024