In order for a pay system to direct organization change,
agency leaders need to demonstrate their commitment to
performance pay and make sure employees understand the
need for it, said MSPB.
It said supervisors have to distinguish between
performance levels, reward them accordingly and be held
accountable if they do not — and that, “employees need
to be involved in the development of the system to
facilitate buy-in.”
Both the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security
have been criticized by unions, lawmakers, as well as
Comptroller General David Walker not being as inclusive
as they might have of unions and line employees in the
development of personnel rules.
As a result both departments have to deal with lawsuits
aimed at preventing them from moving forward and have
had to fight for the image of the new systems which
will require cooperation at all levels.
“Buy-in” is also needed, said MSPB, to facilitate open
communication between employees and supervisors about
performance goals and progress toward achieving them —
especially to make it easier to manage a situation where
an employee believes he or she has been under-compensated.
