Pay-for-Performance a Focal Point

Although DHS has personnel flexibilities in many areas, much of the attention on the upcoming proposal likely will focus on the pay-for-performance issue. It’s widely expected that DHS will want to adopt a pay-for-performance system to replace what administration officials call an outdated general schedule system that primarily provides raises based on longevity. Attention will focus on what standards the system would employ for rating employees, its formula for deciding how much to pay out for what level of performance, how much money would be available in total, whether that money would come at the cost of employees deemed to be lesser performers, the level of employee and union involvement in crafting the details of the program, employee appeal rights and a host of other issues that accompany pay-for-performance. Also, a pay-for-performance system might apply only to certain categories of employees, at least at first, and it might be some time before one could be put into place.