Also dropped was House language allowing a waiver of the 180-day limit on hiring of recently retired members of the Armed Forces to DoD competitive service positions. Image: monticello/Shutterstock.com
By: FEDweek StaffA report by House and Senate conferees on the annual DoD authorization bill raises concerns with several aspects of employment at the department, including that it “is struggling to recruit and retain civilians in mission-critical occupations.”
“This shortage can result in harmful impacts to our national security, and negatively impact morale, training, and readiness,” says the report on the bill, now ready for final voting, “Despite numerous efforts to alleviate these issues, including providing direct hire authority and pay and compensation incentives, civilian shortages in mission critical occupations persist.”
“We note that shortages are further exacerbated by recruiting and retention protocols across the government, including long timelines for the OPM to approve or disapprove proposed incentives,” it adds.
While the final version dropped House language that would have required DoD and OPM to issue additional guidance for qualification standards for such positions, it requires them to issue a report whose findings could be used to set policy in next year’s version of the authorization bill. That report would have to include a list of such positions “in which a civilian shortage has negatively impacted readiness,” positions that are projected to have such an impact, and a assessment of whether DoD should have the authority to waive the general GS classification and qualification standards for such positions.
The conferees also dropped House language to provide additional offsite working flexibilities for federal employees who are spouses of members of the Armed Forces in favor of a required report on “options to adjust Department of Defense policies to retain military spouses in existing positions in a telework capability,” and barriers to military spouse employment such as challenges in using direct hire authority.
Also dropped was House language allowing a waiver of the 180-day limit on hiring of recently retired members of the Armed Forces to DoD competitive service positions; the report noted that exceptions already are allowed, “providing hiring managers comply with competitive processes.”
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