OPM to survey employees who take buyouts

In an effort to ensure that federal managers are pursuing the Bush administration's management and anti-discrimination goals, the Office of Personnel Management will begin to collect information from employees who are accepting buyouts or early retirement options.

"To remain consistent with the objectives of the President's Management Agenda and the Merit System Principles, any reshaping of your workforce must be objective, mission-based and strategic in nature," said OPM Director Kay Coles James in a March 12 memorandum.

The Chief Human Capital Officers Act, which was included in the 2002 Homeland Security bill, gave managers increased flexibility to offer incentives for federal employees interested in leaving the government early. Before the reforms, agencies were able to provide early departure incentives only as part of an effort to downsize. The additional flexibility is intended to help federal agencies "delayer, restructure or reshape their workforce," according to James' memorandum.

Under the regulations, officials will be required to send OPM information on employees who accept the incentives and leave the government. Data collection forms for the policy will soon be sent to agencies' Chief Human Capital Officers and Human Resources Directors, according to OPM.

"To ensure that agencies are using these authorities properly, the reports to OPM should contain demographic information, including age, gender, race or national origin, and veterans' preference categories," James said.

Agencies have apparently taken advantage of the new options. In 2001, 80,564 employees received early retirement offers. OPM reported that almost 100,000 employees have received such offers since July 2003.

"I am impressed with your efforts," James said in the memorandum. "Agencies are using these flexibilities as part of their overall strategic planning processes, and are making offers to ensure they have the right people in the right jobs, close skills gaps, and transform their workforces."