Agencies have ramped up onboarding programs for newly appointed SES members to enable them to succeed from the outset but more needs to be done, OPM has said.
A report based on a survey for some 2,000 execs recently appointed is the first assessment of onboarding initiatives launched during the Obama administration. OPM told agencies in releasing the report that hitting the ground running is especially important “due to the high level of senior leadership responsibilities and expected performance, as well as the broad impact they have on the overall performance of the organization and the federal government.”
Majorities of the new execs said that early on they received information on pay and leave (65 percent), their duties and responsibilities (61 percent) and standards of ethics (52 percent) but only 41 percent said the same of organizational priorities. Also, 37 percent said they did not receive certain information about their new position prior to the first day on the job as OPM recommends.
“Additionally, only about a third of respondents indicated they received information on 15 additional topics recom¬mended by OPM. OPM recommends — during the first week of a new executive’s employment — agencies deliberately introduce and help the executive acclimate to their organization. Agencies and senior leaders should help the executive understand pitfalls and critical issues by sharing information and conducting briefings,” the report said.
“Agencies are encouraged to use these results, and regularly administer the onboarding survey for all future onboarding executives, to help evaluate and improve their executive onboarding programs including goals, activities, outputs, and outcomes. Most importantly, agencies should use these survey results to improve their policies and programs for executive resources management, and as part of their overall talent management and succession planning,” a memo to agencies said.
