(b) Federal personnel management should be implemented consistent
with the following merit system principles:
(1) Recruitment should be from qualified individuals from appropriate
sources in an endeavor to achieve a work force from all segments
of society, and selection and advancement should be determined
solely on the basis of relative ability, knowledge and skills,
after fair and open competition which assures that all receive
equal opportunity.
(2) All employees and applicants for employment should receive
fair and equitable treatment in all aspects of personnel management
without regard to political affiliation, race, color, religion,
national origin, sex, marital status, age, or handicapping condition,
and with proper regard for their privacy and constitutional
rights.
(3) Equal pay should be provided for work of equal value, with
appropriate consideration of both national and local rates paid
by employers in the private sector, and appropriate incentives
and recognition should be provided for excellence in performance.
(4) All employees should maintain high standards of integrity,
conduct, and concern for the public interest.
(5) The Federal work force should be used efficiently and effectively.
(6) Employees should be retained on the basis of adequacy of
their performance, inadequate performance should be corrected,
and employees should be separated who cannot or will not improve
their performance to meet required standards.
(7) Employees should be provided effective education and training
in cases in which such education and training would result in
better organizational and individual performance.
(8) Employees should be--
(A) protected against arbitrary action, personal favoritism,
or coercion for partisan political purposes, and
(B) prohibited from using their official authority or influence
for the purpose of interfering with or affecting the result
of an election or a nomination for election.
(9) Employees should be protected against reprisal for the
lawful disclosure of information which the employees reasonably
believe evidences--
(A) a violation of any law, rule, or regulation, or
(B) mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority,
or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety.
(1) with respect to any agency (as defined in section 2302(a)(2)(C)
of this title), the President shall, pursuant to the authority
otherwise available under this title, take any action including
the issuance of rules, regulations, or directives; and
(2) with respect to any entity in the executive branch which
is not such an agency or part of such an agency, the head of
such entity shall, pursuant to authority otherwise available,
take any action, including the issuance of rules, regulations,
or directives; which is consistent with the provisions of this
title and which the President or the head, as the case may be,
determines is necessary to ensure that personnel management
is based on and embodies the merit system principles.