Mr. Nice, Again: Rep. Ro Khanna Wins Democracy Award for Best Workplace in U.S. Congress

Congressman Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) has received the Congressional Management Foundation’s Democracy Award for outstanding achievement for the category of “Life in Congress” Workplace Environment.

The award highlights “offices that have established both formal policies and informal cultures that enhance the work-life fit and professional development of their staff,” the foundation said.

The Indian American lawmaker has been recognized for creating “a robust time-off policy,” the foundation said. Khanna’s staff receive “30 days of total paid leave per year — 15 days of vacation plus 15 days of sick leave which can be used for Mental Health Days at any point during the year, in addition to one to two weeks of office closure in the last two weeks of December.” 

The foundation also notes that Khanna’s office “appears to be an open and collaborative workplace,” with the congressman “cultivating an individual relationship with every staff member, encouraging staff to offer their recommendations and to ask him questions directly.

In a statement Khanna said he was “honored” to receive this award and congratulated his “incredible staff” for working alongside him “to create a positive and inclusive work environment.” He continued: “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.”

This is Khanna’s second Democracy Award. His office won the 2019 Democracy Award in the “Constituent Service” category.

Khanna, co-chair of the U.S. Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, is currently in India, where has been leading a bipartisan delegation to Delhi which participated in India’s 77th Independence Day parade today.  tDuring his visit, Khanna also discussed defense ties, economic partnership, and minority rights, among other issues. 

He told India Today that “relations between India and the US are vital not only for economic cooperation but also for addressing shared security concerns, especially in light of escalating border conflicts with China.” Noting that he was honored to be in India to celebrate its independence day, he recalled how he “grew up reading Nehru’s historic speech,” and added that “it is great to see how India is thriving at this moment.

The delegation’s visit came two months after Prime Minister Modi’s state visit to D.C., and a month before President Biden’s first Indian visit during his tenure to attend the G20 summit.