A new position paper on the Working for America Act, the
Bush administration’s proposed government-wide personnel
system overhaul, urges a gradual agency-by-agency
implementation rather than an accelerated shift.
The position paper from Federally Employed Women,
recommends waiting to see how personnel system changes at
the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security unfold
before moving forward with other agencies.
FEW said it was delivering the paper to each legislator’s
office along with statistics on how many federal employees
work in every congressional district and state.
“FEW has always supported changes that makes the federal
government more efficient and effective,” said the group’s
president, Patricia Wolfe.
“However, we have some recommendations for legislators in
the Congress to consider as they debate this proposed
initiative,” she added.
The group recommended implementing pay changes first, and
gradually changing them as needed, as well as consultation
with non-union organizations to develop personnel systems.
FEW called for adherence to equal opportunity laws in
developing pay-for-performance systems, such as safeguards
to ensure management is fair and equitable.
For example, Congress should mandate a statistical program
that takes into consideration race and gender regarding
raises, bonuses and higher salaries, the group argued.
It also said agencies should be required to provide an
implementation plan that is subject to stakeholder input,
as well as proof that managers are able to implement the
program fairly and without bias.
“FEW’s leaders are ready to work with Congress and the
administration to develop and implement a fair and
non-biased personnel system that has no negative impact
on women, minorities or disabled federal workers,” the
group said.
