CRS Examines SES Ratings, Pay Issues

By: fedweek

The Congressional Research Service has issued a report on the pay-for-performance system for SES members, which is widely seen as a model for potential similar systems elsewhere in government. CRS wrote that the Bush administration placed an emphasis on reducing the number of employees who had been receiving top ratings, a reduction that has occurred for a variety of reasons, including a switch away from performance ratings systems using only three levels. CRS also noted that some have argued that the reduction in top ratings “is a function of forced distributions.” It also said there is a “seeming disconnect” between the decreasing percentage of executives receiving the highest ratings and the increasing percentage of SESers receiving performance awards and the growth in the average size of awards. For a closer look, go to fedweek.com/HotFreeNews in the hot free info section of our website.