| Most civilian federal workers are employed pursuant to a merit system. Initially created by the Civil Service Act of 1883, the merit system was originally administered by the Civil Service Commission. In 1978, Congress passed the Civil Service Reform Act, which eliminated the Civil Service Commission and created several new agencies, including the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). The Civil Service Reform Act also set forth the merit system principles relied upon today. The OPM, which is responsible for administering and enforcing the civil service merit system rules, is the human resources director of the federal government.
Generally, merit system principles apply to executive agencies and the Government Printing Office. OPM is tasked with ensuring that these agencies implement personnel management policies that are consistent with the merit system principles set forth by Congress.
General merit system principles set forth in the Civil Service Reform Act may be summarized as follows:
- Management should seek to achieve a workforce that represents all segments of society. Only qualified individuals should be recruited. Selection and advancement should be determined solely on the basis of merit, after a fair and open competition.
- Management may not discriminate against employees and applicants on the basis of political affiliation, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, marital status, age, or handicap.
- Employees should receive equal pay for equal work. Appropriate bonuses should be paid for extraordinary service.
- Employees must maintain high standards of integrity, conduct, and concern for the public interest.
- Federal employees must be used effectively and efficiently.
- The jobs of employees who do not perform adequately and who cannot or will not improve should be terminated.
- Education and training should be provided to employees.
- Employees should not be subjected to arbitrary action, personal favoritism, or political coercion.
- Employees are not allowed to used their official authority to influence the results of elections.
- Employees should be afforded whistleblower protections.
OPM is authorized by the Civil Service Reform Act to take corrective actions against covered agencies that violate these principles. Copyright 2010 LexisNexis, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. |