U.S. Office of Personnel Management - Ensuring the Federal Government has an effective civilian workforce

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OPM Showcases New Initiatives on Poor Performers

Over the years, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has worked consistently to assist the Federal human resources community in addressing poor performance by employees. But there is still an ongoing perception among managers and supervisors that dealing with the poor performer is too complicated and too time consuming. This perception has been noted in General Accounting Office reports, Merit Systems Protection Board studies, and internal workforce surveys conducted within a variety of Federal agencies. To reduce this perception, this agency is committed to increasing supervisors' access to information about how to deal with poor performance. Through a coordinated series of initiatives, we are developing a multi-media approach that will provide the following tools to Federal agencies to use in informing and motivating managers and supervisors to take appropriate action against poor performers:

• Booklet
• Web site
• CD-ROM
• Ordering Information

Booklet. Addressing and Resolving Poor Performance. This is an "easy read" for managers and supervisors who want to understand the process of counseling, providing a formal opportunity to improve, and possibly taking actions based on unacceptable performance. It is not overly technical and provides tips on counseling, some sample letters and memoranda, and checklists to help managers and supervisors stay on track as they work with employees who are not performing acceptably. Check the index on our web site, www.opm.gov, under performance based actions.

Web site. Dealing with Performance Issues. In addition to making the booklet available through the World Wide Web, our web site will contain information on frequently asked questions about poor performance, regulatory guidance documents, summaries of relevant case law on performance-based actions, and links to other useful web sites.

CD-ROM. Addressing and Resolving Poor Performance. This interactive CD-ROM is designed to help Federal supervisors identify and resolve poor performance. It addresses three different steps in the process: counseling, providing and opportunity to improve, and taking formal action such as demotion or removal. Video segments include three scenarios in which the various steps are discussed, as well as advice from both an employee relations specialist and experience Federal supervisors and managers. Charts, checklists, samples of documents such as performance improvement notice and decision notices, and answers to commonly asked questions are provided throughout the CD-ROM to assist supervisors further. The CD-ROM will provide "just-in-time" training for managers and supervisors. For more information, call 202-606-2920.

Ordering Information. We anticipate that these tools will be available to Federal agencies in late January 1998. The CD-ROM and the booklet can be ordered through the Government Printing Office (GPO) rider process. Agency personnel should contact their internal publications office for ordering information.

Originally published on December 1997.