The acting director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Charles Ezell, has issued an order that requires federal agencies to identify barriers to making "meaningful distinctions" between employees' job performance. This directive comes as part of an effort to develop new performance metrics for evaluating the federal workforce. These metrics will align with recent executive orders from President Donald Trump, reflecting a broader effort to enhance accountability and efficiency within federal departments and agencies.
In a move to enforce these standards, the Trump administration has mandated all federal departments and agencies to submit lists of employees who have received less than "fully successful" job performance ratings over the past three years. These lists are due by March 7 and must include detailed information about each employee, such as name, job title, pay plan, series, grade, agency, component, and duty station. Additionally, they must note whether the employee is under or has completed a performance improvement plan within the last 12 months.
The order further stipulates that agencies must report any OPM regulations, agency policies, or terms of collective bargaining agreements that might impede their ability to distinguish employee performance levels effectively. Similarly, the order seeks to highlight any impediments to swiftly separating low-performing employees. This initiative signals a significant shift towards a more performance-based evaluation system within federal workspaces.
"OPM is developing new performance metrics for evaluating the federal workforce that aligns with the priorities and standards in the President's recent Executive Orders."
- Acting Director of the Office of Personnel Management
Moreover, the lists required by the new order must include information on whether any actions against employees have been proposed or decided under Chapter 43 or 75, or equivalent procedures. The outcome of such decisions and whether these actions are currently appealed or challenged must also be documented. These comprehensive reports aim to provide a clearer picture of employee performance and ensure that federal operations maintain high standards of efficiency.
The introduction of these new performance metrics underscores the administration's commitment to reforming federal workforce evaluations. By aligning these metrics with executive priorities, the government seeks to promote higher standards of accountability and productivity among federal employees.
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