Us Office Of Personnel Management And The Merit System

Human resources represents one of the largest shares of government budgets at every level. The management of people who carry out the government's work is therefore a critical issue to politicians and government managers and leaders, as well as citizens. Regardless of which administration is in office or which reforms are being touted as necessary, personnel are always at the heart of government and governing. Personnel Management in Government: Politics and Process highlights the rapid developments in public personnel administration and management. As one of the bestselling texts in the field, this sixth edition reflects the major changes that have occurred recently in government personnel administration, including the authorization given to the new Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense to develop their own personnel management systems. Addressing reforms in federal and state governments to illustrate the employment scene in public sector workforces, this book continues to provide updated information on the political, legal, and managerial aspects of public personnel systems and policies. Features Reflects the changing nature of public personnel administration Provides up-to-date knowledge on the political, legal, and managerial aspects of public personnel management Addresses developments in the Department of Homeland Security and in the Department of Defense Presents major reforms in personnel policy and administration across federal, state, and local governments

In this report, the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) assesses some of the major activities of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) during the first decade of its existence. OPM was established by the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 (CSRA) to provide the Federal civil service system with leadership, guidance, and oversight. MSPB was also established under the CRSA -- as a successor to the former Civil Service Commission -- to adjudicate employee appeals and to protect the merit system. One of MSPB's assigned responsibilities is to conduct special studies of the civil service system as part of a planned system of checks and balances. This charge includes a specific requirement for an annual oversight review and report on the significant actions of OPM. In commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the CSRA, this report provides a synthesis of the findings and conclusions from published MSPB reports on OPM dating back to calendar year 1980. It also outlines the high expectations set for OPM by the CSRA and discusses the degree to which the OPM activities and programs covered by this review have met those expectations. The report concludes with recommendations for OPM action and direction in the coming decade.