Homeland Security begins training managers on new personnel system
More than 12,000 managers will attend sessions between now and October.
The Homeland Security Department this week began the process of training its managers and supervisors in how to use its new human resources system, a DHS personnel official said Monday.
Todd Turner discussed the transition to the new system at the Excellence in Government conference in Washington. The conference is co-sponsored by Government Executive.
The first session took place Monday. The training focuses on "what it means to be a coach and leader," Turner said, aiming to provide managers with specifics about how to set goals and standards for employee performance.
More than 12,000 managers will attend the sessions between now and Oct. 1, Turner said. A total of 131 sessions will be held.
Several federal labor unions have filed a lawsuit to prevent implementation of the new DHS personnel system. On July 15, department officials agreed to delay implementing the system from Aug.1 until Aug. 15 to allow a federal judge to issue a ruling on the suit.
In a speech at the Excellence in Government conference Monday morning, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff made a push for full funding from Congress for implementation efforts this year. "We need to move forward in an efficient, speedy fashion," Chertoff said.
Under the current schedule, the department will begin phasing in performance management changes on Oct. 1, Turner said. DHS already has analyzed more than 350 types of DHS jobs, representing more than 70 percent of the department's workforce, and has purchased survey data on compensation for these positions in an effort to determine market pay rates.
In February 2006, about 8,000 DHS employees are scheduled to be converted into broad pay bands and will begin receiving market-based pay. After a year in the new system, employees' pay will begin to be tied to job performance, Turner said.