By Brittany R. Ballenstedt
December 16, 2008
The government should improve the certification process for federal agencies with performance-based pay systems for members of the Senior Executive Service, according to a new report by the Government Accountability Office.
The report (GAO-09-82) found that while oversight of the systems by the Office of Personnel Management and Office of Management and Budget generally was satisfactory, the two could identify ways to further improve and streamline the certification process for the SES pay system and provide agencies with the guidance, tools and training needed to implement those systems.
Currently, agencies are allowed to raise the SES pay cap from $158,000 to $172,200 if OPM and OMB agree that an agency's appraisal system meets nine certification criteria. Those include a requirement that SES performance is linked to the organization's goals.
http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/1208/121608b1.htm
