People
Letter: Performance pay diminishes freedom, protection
Pay for performance eliminates protection from negative personnel actions by managers who can harass and fire employees who don't cooperate when asked to overlook policy violations. This is one of the most basic reasons government employees are needed.
People
Letter: Performance pay system needs more funding, restructuring
NSPS is constrained by funds available to award for performance, just like the demonstration projects of previous years. This forces supervisors to fit the actual performance and adjective grades of their employees into a "normal distribution model" to not give "too many" high marks.
People
Letter: Union, employees have little room to complain about pay increases
Given the reports earlier this month that AVERAGE pay increase for employees under the NSPS was in excess of 7 percent, I find it hard to understand the wailing, moaning and gnashing of teeth from government employees and their union representatives on this issue.
People
Letter: History repeats itself in pay- for-performance system
USDA tried the performance pay system in the 1980's; it was called the General Merit system. It failed because additional funding was not provided for true merit raises.
People
Letter: E-filing won’t take off until it’s free
A reader argues that taxpayers shouldn’t have to pay companies to file their tax returns.
People
DHS handoff worries lawmakers
Department refuses to share presidential transition document with lawmakers.
People
VA to use IT to speed disability benefits
The Veterans Affairs Department plans to implement information technology and business process improvements recommended by IBM.
People
Buzz of the Week: 'Unique opportunity' lures Walker from GAO
Comptroller General David Walker will become president and chief executive officer of a new public-interest foundation launched by billionaire financier Peter Peterson.
People
OMB's latest e-gov report shows continued effects on agencies, citizens
Officials say the government saved $508 million last year because of these initiatives.
People
Bush nominates new SBA IG
Carol Dillon Kissal has a solid senior-level finance and management background, according to SBA Administrator Steven Preston.
People
Bush to nominate new SBA IG
He also intends to nominate Joseph Benkert as assistant secretary of Defense for global security affairs.
People
Bridging the divide
Agencies must resolve difficult cultural and policy challenges to get homeland security and law enforcement information flowing freely.
People
OMB: Security clearance backlog will be under control this year
Clay Johnson predicts that most agencies will be able to significantly reduce the amount of older backlogged applications by September.
People
In search of contracting officers
Coalition initiative targets college students to relieve strain on acquisition workforce.
People
Comptroller general to leave GAO for foundation
David Walker, head of the Government Accountability Office, will become president and CEO of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation next month.
People
DOD, OPM said ready for security clearance reform
Officials say agencies will speed processes for clearances.
People
Report: Agencies need pipeline of new hires
Merit Systems Protection Board researchers say entry-level employees are the building blocks of federal workforce planning.
People