GovernmentExecutive.com

Return to Article: DHS touts success in senior-level hiring

• 41340
  

  I agree with Abby that security is important but so is diversity. The two are not mutually exclusive. Diversity is not racially or gender based and should not be a buzz word or code word for that. As an over 45 year-old individual that refuses to die my gray hair, there is a lot of age bias.

  Maggie Posted January 11, 2008 11:30 AM
• 38012
  

  Let's hope this agency is spared the numbers game with 'diversity'. I would rather have 'security' any day.

  abbey Posted November 21, 2007 11:30 AM
• 37043
  

  I agree with Henry. Why would anyone younger than 37 stay in CBP when they can go to a 20 year retirement position with a much better percentage for retirement. This problem didn't begin with the creation of CBP though, back when it was the U.S. Customs Service the same retirement applied but it seems that management back then knew when to kick butt and take names rather than the old CYA, don't ask, don't tell policy of today. In my opinion, the entire DHS needs an overhaul.

  Jeff Posted November 9, 2007 7:24 PM
• 36783
  

  Make the position of CBP Officer a LEO with the appropriate pay and you will have more commitment from the officers. As someone already said it has bad hours, poor scheduling, and a managemnt more worried about CYA than doing what is right. Heck, ICE agents get a GS13 along with LEO and they won't even come out when CBP officers call on them.

  Henry Posted November 7, 2007 11:21 PM
• 36733
  

  John K -- why is there so much attrition of the rank-and-file? I have heard that before, but I don't work there, so I don't know what's going on.

  william Posted November 7, 2007 1:24 PM
• 36711
  

  Census stats show 80% of the U.S. population is white. This makes DHS's hiring proportional rather than "pathetic." Throw in the male-female ratio (roughly 50/50), and the numbers still come out proportional. Arguments are best supported by facts.

  william Posted November 7, 2007 10:15 AM
• 36676
  

  DHS has already done one survey but had few responses because the technology didn't work--the server was inaccessible. But DHS has a pretty good idea what the problems are from the responses that did get through before the server crashed--the problems are not a mystery--and are largely management issues. Now, DHS wants employees to participate in another survey and, again, the server is inaccessible. This is the department created to promote communication!

  Nobody in DHS Posted November 6, 2007 3:55 PM
• 36673
  

  Charlene,

  Note the differences. Kelly of the NTEU says "they know what the probelms are." No one at the agency said that.

  That means that Kelly thinks she knows what the problems are, and she assumes that the folks at DHS do also. I suspect that the DHS officials might have various ideas of what the issues are, but they are not all knowing as Ms. Kelly, so that they think they need to do a survey. Sometimes, surveys comeback with exactly what you expect, sometimes they are real surprises. That's why you do surveys.

  Of course a inadequately designed survey will provide infomation that might be somewhat off, or completely hide the truth.

  Henry E Posted November 6, 2007 3:17 PM
• 36670
  

  OK so out of the 21 they hired, 2 were African-American women, 2 were Hispanic males, and 1 was an Asian female, so I guess the other 16 were white males? Boy what an acheivement!! Whoo Hoo they're on a role!! Pathetic.

  Annie Posted November 6, 2007 1:56 PM
• 36664
  

  One of 21 is 4.76% and 2 of 21 is 9.5%. Thus, do the statistics cited in the article mean that in each case more than one African American woman, Asian woman and Hispanic male but fewer than two were hired?

  J Dean Posted November 6, 2007 1:01 PM
• 36661
  

  The attrition rate at CBP is high because of the many changes that have occurred over the last few years. This is for the most part a dead end job with the top journeyman grade at GS-11,long hours, poorly scheduled shifts which disrupt family life. LEO coverage would have at least offered an olive leaf to encourage commitment. This outfit has been on a downward slide.

  Charlie Posted November 6, 2007 12:37 PM
• 36634
  

  The DHS spokesperson was quoted as lamenting the lack of funding for a human captital (morale)survey: "Still, success at Homeland Security comes at a price, and fiscal 2008 may not be as bright, Perez said. The House version of the fiscal 2008 Homeland Security appropriations bill blocks funding for personnel reforms, providing only $3 million for a human capital survey."

  However, the President of NTEU, "Kelley noted that while the career paths initiative is commendable, it is also critical for the department to focus on hiring and retention rates at CBP. "Morale at the agency is very low," she said. "[DHS officials] know what the issues are, but they don't pay attention to them."

  So it seems that DHS could act on the problems that have already been reported. Why don't they?

  Charleen Posted November 6, 2007 9:11 AM
• 36625
  

  Now if only they could keep their rank-and-file. Everybody I know that has gone there has left or is trying to leave.

  John K Posted November 6, 2007 8:33 AM