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FSIS Receives OPM Approval to Implement Results-Based, Competency-Linked Pay-For-Performance System
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Congressional and Public Affairs
(202) 720-9113
Bryn Burkard
WASHINGTON, January 29, 2009 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and
Inspection Service (FSIS) and the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) today announced final
approval of a project to test a results and competency-linked pay-for-performance system that will
change the way employees are compensated, rewarded, and recognized.
FSIS is a public health regulatory agency that continually invests in human capital. In order to
continue agency success in performing a range of food safety, food defense, and public health regulatory
missions over the next decade, FSIS requires an innovative human resources system. The demonstration
project will enable FSIS to take a proactive role in finding solutions to all of these challenges in
order to attract a diverse and well-qualified applicant pool, and to retain and motivate its current
workforce. The final Federal Register notice is available at: http://www.opm.gov/cfr/fedregis/#E9-1641
The Public Health Human Resources System (PHHRS) is a pay-for-performance project that will include
approximately 2,800 FSIS employees; jobs will be placed in broad career paths utilizing flexible pay
settings based on qualifications, local labor market factors and performance ratings. This demonstration
project will involve all General Schedule (GS), non-bargaining unit employees within FSIS, including
public health veterinarians.
In May 2008, the FSIS Demonstration Project proposal was approved by OPM and in June 2008, a public
meeting was held to discuss the proposal. FSIS received approximately 150 comments which covered a number
of different management and human resources topics. This public feedback played a vital role in the
evaluation process, leading to further examination and a better understanding of the long-term management
and employee implications of the project plan.
One key change, indicative of the feedback received from employees through the public process, was the
addition of a "grandfather clause," for developmental employees in career ladder positions
(i.e. positions with promotion potential to a higher pay band). This provision allows developmental
employees to receive special in-band pay increases sufficient to ensure employee's base rate under PHHRS
is equal to base rate under GS. This will honor our commitments to current FSIS employees who were hired
in developmental positions and are performing well.
According to FSIS Administrator Al Almanza, "This is an important initiative for FSIS as it will offer
a number of flexibilities that will greatly enhance the Agency's ability to recruit and retain its most
valued resource — our employees. In addition the new flexibilities will allow FSIS to further
support our workforce with a more modern human resources management system that enhances and protects
our critical role in public health, food safety, and food security."
The PHHRS project will be implemented on July 19, and will feature a simplified pay-banding classification
and compensation system. The demonstration project will be conducted over a five year period under the
supervision of OPM to determine if the pay-for-performance system is successful in improving the agency's
personnel management.
For further information from FSIS, contact Laurie Lindsay, Director of Human Resources Demonstration Project,
Office of Management at (202) 720-7983, by e-mail at Laurie.Lindsay@fsis.usda.gov,
or by mail to U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, 1400 Independence Ave, SW,
Room 2134, South Building, Washington, DC 20250.
For additional information from OPM, contact Patsy Stevens, Systems Innovation Group Manager at (202) 606-1574,
or by mail at 1900 E Street, NW, Room 7456, Washington, DC 20415, by e-mail at
demoprojects@opm.gov.
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Last Modified:
January 29, 2009 |
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