diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tabs.py b/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tabs.py
index 36b11d9795..47730f77cc 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tabs.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tabs.py
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ from courseware.access import has_access
 from static_replace import replace_urls
 
 from open_ended_grading.peer_grading_service import PeerGradingService
+from open_ended_grading.staff_grading_service import StaffGradingService
 from student.models import unique_id_for_user
 
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -108,7 +109,24 @@ def _textbooks(tab, user, course, active_page):
 def _staff_grading(tab, user, course, active_page):
     if has_access(user, course, 'staff'):
         link = reverse('staff_grading', args=[course.id])
-        return [CourseTab('Staff grading', link, active_page == "staff_grading")]
+        staff_gs = StaffGradingService(settings.STAFF_GRADING_INTERFACE)
+        pending_grading=False
+        tab_name = "Staff grading"
+        img_path= ""
+        try:
+            notifications = json.loads(staff_gs.get_notifications(course.id))
+            if notifications['success']:
+                if notifications['staff_needs_to_grade']:
+                    pending_grading=True
+        except:
+            #Non catastrophic error, so no real action
+            log.info("Problem with getting notifications from staff grading service.")
+
+        if pending_grading:
+            img_path = "/static/images/slider-handle.png"
+
+        tab = [CourseTab(tab_name, link, active_page == "staff_grading", pending_grading, img_path)]
+        return tab
     return []
 
 def _peer_grading(tab, user, course, active_page):
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/open_ended_grading/staff_grading_service.py b/lms/djangoapps/open_ended_grading/staff_grading_service.py
index 5c6cec17eb..0db17e2ef4 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/open_ended_grading/staff_grading_service.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/open_ended_grading/staff_grading_service.py
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ class StaffGradingService(GradingService):
         self.get_next_url = self.url + '/get_next_submission/'
         self.save_grade_url = self.url + '/save_grade/'
         self.get_problem_list_url = self.url + '/get_problem_list/'
+        self.get_notifications_url = self.url + "/get_notifications/"
 
 
     def get_problem_list(self, course_id, grader_id):
@@ -132,6 +133,12 @@ class StaffGradingService(GradingService):
 
         return self.post(self.save_grade_url, data=data)
 
+    def get_notifications(self, course_id):
+        params = {'course_id': course_id}
+        response = self.get(self.get_notifications_url, params)
+        return response
+
+
 # don't initialize until staff_grading_service() is called--means that just
 # importing this file doesn't create objects that may not have the right config
 _service = None