OPM has issued a memo following up to a May 27 notice on the use of recruitment, relocation and retention payments, detailing how it intends to strengthen controls on the use of the "3Rs" program.
Agency director John Berry stated that the incentives should only be paid when necessary to support agency missions and program needs, and requested that each agency review and if needed update 3R plans, as well as approval and internal monitoring procedures to ensure they meet program requirements.
Agencies have also been asked to certify that that they have completed these actions by signing a form and submitting it to OPM.
Berry also requested the Chief Human Capital Officers Council to establish a work group to develop recommendations for improving the administration and oversight of the 3Rs authorities with a special emphasis on developing approaches for measuring the cost-benefit of the 3Rs program to the government – namely what impact scaling back would have.
