What's Changing
Here are the civil service reforms that are likely to be implemented at a new Homeland Security Department. All emphasize more discretion for managers and less reliance on rulebooks.
| Feature | Old | New |
| Hiring | The Rule of Three: Managers must select from three top-rated candidates | Categorical Ranking: Managers can pick from a larger pool of top candidates |
| Classification | Rank in position; tightly defined job descriptions | Rank in person (lets managers move employees around more easily); loose job descriptions |
| Collective Bargaining | Limited negotiation rights for unions because so much is set in law | Could expand negotiable topics |
| Pay | 15-grade, 10-step-per-grade General Schedule | Fewer grades, likely to have more steps so managers have more options to differentiate salaries |
| Performance | Evaluations have limited bearing on pay | Evaluations tied more closely to pay increases |
| Firing | Employees have 30-day appeal rights within agency, additional appeals to MSPB and courts | Appeal rights limited |
| Management | Laws and human resources offices drive many management decisions | More management decisions shifted to line managers |
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