Return to Article: Diversity lacking among agencies' senior ranks, say lawmakers
-
48383
While we are on the subject of minority SES members, what about those who are overlooked for their accomplishments? My office is led by an outstanding minority SES and this SES is the best leader among all those who have held the position. The office has accomplished more under the leadership of this SES than any other and yet, when the big bonuses are issued, this SES is excluded. I mean not even recognized with a little bonus. So minorities beware - you may be selected as SES but your upper level minority SES may keep you in check and use what you have achieved to line their pockets.
-
48381
I am an African-American female; just promoted to a GS-15 last year. Bottom Line: I don't care what color/race/religion, just give me an SES that is the Most Qualified, holds the Agency's mission/purpose to heart, and doesn't lead their organization based on personal relationships, emotions, and intimidation! The Federal Workforce would be a better place, if we'd stop putting these types of individuals in SES or other leadership positions!!!
-
48363
Tell me how fair and equal our workplace is when I have a minority friend who has a Master's Degree in Healthcare Mgmt and a MBA but is continually told she is not qualified or not chosen for a GS-9 or GS-11 position for that matter (when her education should be counted in the time in grade requirement but is never considered when rating her for a PVA).
If she can't start moving up that ladder because lots of people are pre-selected for these GS-9 to GS-15 positions (at least at our facility), how can she reach the SES level? She has actually been told that due to her advanced degrees Supervisors see her moving on to a higher position quickly and the Supervisors (she is one herself) do not want to invest their time training her.
Shall we call that "Educationism"? So not only does she have to worry about being blocked from a position because she is an African-American, woman (who is also an exemplary employee) but now she has to worry about being blocked because of her educational level.
Of course there are plenty of Qualified Minority applicants but we are bottlenecked into lower level positions and can't even get our foot into these higher because we don't look like the people on the interview panel or they have a minority on the panel whose opinion does not matter.
Yes, I have gone through the same issues but I don't have the eudcation that she has. Although, I do have the experience and I am a Disabled Vet. I am just appalled at what has happening to her. It is terrible.
-
48242
I have been reading all the complaining about how minorities are being so unfair to the poor non-minorities. I could almost cry! Let's get real and look at the facts. The Senior Executive Service ranks are 85% white, 8.12% Black, 3.7% Hispanic, 2.27% Asian, and 1.29% American Indian. Isn't it terrible how minorities are so priviledged? It is so unfair, they are taking jobs away from those certainly more qualified non-minorities! Sarcasm aside, these numbers are nowhere close to where they should be if things were fair. But, you will still have racist comments about how THEY are taking our jobs. The fact is that there are plenty of QUALIFIED minorities who are not getting an equal and fair chance at these better federal SES positions. Let's just deal with the facts and leave your rantings at home.
-
48185
Yeah right Wayne! White men today did not create the suffering but you want to punish them just because they are white.
Straight out of the hate speech from Revs. Wright, Jackson and Sharpton!
I would love to be able to talk to Reverend King right now to see his thoughts on how his movement has been bastardized today!
-
48158
To be fair, no white men should be promoted from this point in time going forward. At any GS level. White men should in fact be demoted.
Only after all the suffering and agrieved minorities feel better should white men be considered anything more than alabaster packages of hatred.
This process should take about ten generations.
-
48141
who ever said that the SES ranks should mirror the makeup of the non-SES ranks or the civilian labor force for that matter. that is the most nonsensical comparison I've ever heard. (some members of Congress use it too, figure that!) so then, you would also agree, that when we reach a certain percentage for each minority, we stop hiring them because we've achieved "societal parity". (this is where your theory dies a quick death.) Perfect example, I worked for an organization where promotions came out and there were 20% caucasian, 20% African-American, 20% hispanic, etc. Our "leader" had achieved nirvana. Our view..... that he had cooked the books. I don't care if the numbers were 80/20 minority, as long as the leaders are highly qualified. We all want fairness, can it be so hard?
-
48116
As a federal employee I can honestly say that government is the biggest racist employer going. Got to have a certain percentage of ethnicities; qualifications don't count. And they give minorities big bonuses to take a job!!!!
-
48113
IMHO, quite a few of the SES folks we have now are not qualified. Many of today's commenters are not acknowledging that the selections for SES are not objective. I don't agree with Congress that there should be more Black men. What I would agree to is that qualified people from all groups should be hired for professional/admin positions that have career potential. Hiring should mimic the race/gender distribution in the US (public and private) workforce. The distribution in the SES ranks should mimic the distribution in the lower ranks as much as possible.
Any time you have an agency that has a glass ceiling for women and minorities at the GS 12 level but all White men at the GS 15 and SES level, you have decisions made by "group speak" and there is also the potential for a lot of misunderstandings and low morale.
I agree that we should make the SES selections more objective and we should make sure that Hispanics, women, and (don't forget)individuals with targeted disabilties are hired and in the pipeline. How many of you know that White women are under represented in the Federal workforce compared to the Civilian Labor Force?!
Look it up on EEOC's website!
-
48097
From a white male professional in the trenches - I just want to be led by a competent SES. Please give me the best SES leader, whatever the color or sex. My concern is that a policy of diversity for the sake of diversity is NOT blind to color and sex and will undermine competency as the key selection factor.
-
48071
These people who object just don't get it! The reason there is no diversity in the SES is because those in control select people who act and look like them. It is not because there are no qualified minorities. There has always been an excuse for not having selected a Hispanic, Black, Asian or female for these SES positions. The white male will always have an edge because he reflects those who are in power positions. It is not that these others are not qualified, it is that the white male is frequently considered MORE qualified, whether it is true or not. It is time to diversify so that the truly qualified person obtains these higher level positions. Diversifying the SES will not result in disaster. It won't but it will displeased those who feel they are entitled to these positions. To be clear, most white males I know agree that something needs to be done to bring in more diversity. It is those few who hold back all of us with their "good ole boy" mentalities who I am worried about. We can't let them win. It is time for progress in this area.
-
48067
Finally we don't have to wonder anymore. We know now for a fact that our democratically-controlled Congress thinks that qualifications for federal jobs are secondary to race, gender, and whatever other protected classifications are out there. What's next? A return to patronage? No wonder the government is going to experience a staffing crisis. Most of us can't wait to get out of the insanity. Hats off to Ms. Kischak who bravely stood up to these morons.
-
48065
"As a white man, the "Diversity" plan sounds like a quota plan that excludes me. What ever happened to merit and giving the most qualified applicant the job?"
Jack, it is called political correctness! Forget best qualified, that doesn't exist anymore unless you consider race and sex as a qualification. I have a co-worker who states "I'll bet he/she is white or they will never hire a person of color for that job!" then doesn't consider the statements to be racist. Face it, we are living in the world of entitlement.
-
48053
Whenever this discussion resurfaces, there are always those who make an implication that fair and equal consideration will somehow favor an "unqualified" minority candidate. Actually, there is a large group of us "minority male candidates" whose credentials and accomplishments (professional and educational) far exceed those of the folks who have traditionally been selected and are continually being selected.
This happens because those doing the selecting are much more comfortable with people who look like and think like the selectees and share a common background. So the true concept of merit selection and choosing the best qualified candidate is turned upside down or ignored. As such, the SES ranks continue to swell with "less-than-the-best-and-brightest", and the caliber of American government leadership, along with the quality of services delivered, continues on a downward path.
Ironically, when global geo-political and economic factors, as well as shifting global paradigms are considered, those fully qualified and highly credentialled minority male and female candidates are actually the "best-and-the-brightest" to take this country forward and keep it in the forefront of world affairs.
-
48046
My organization just promoted a female to their top SES postion. Not only was she female, but she has a non-technical background. Oh, by the way, she was selected by a bunch of stodgy, old white guys. So much for needing a feamle and a minority on the selection board. She was eminently well qualified, competed well, and she had the right background training, education, and experience (even joint experience). There aren't many willing to put in the effort to prepare themselves. It doesn't happen overnight.
-
48043
So much for Congress's credentials, 3 of the 4 congressman quoted are lawyers. If they are unable to see why the law is unconstitutional then is obvious that the quota policy in law schools is having its desired effect
-
48040
Congratulations to OPM for standing up for the Constitution.
-
48037
Nancy Kichak, OPM's associate director for strategic human resources policy, rankled some lawmakers when she said that her agency did not have a position on the legislation, and suggested the bill could face constitutional hurdles. "We have serious concerns about the potential impact on the merit system principles of injecting race and gender into the examination process in this manner," she said. "The Justice Department has advised that these race- and gender-based requirements for the composition of the SES panels are very likely unconstitutional under governing equal protection precedents."
Great, someone has read the our constitution. It is a very short, easy read. It would be prudent that some of the congressmen read it and believed it since they have sworn to uphold it.
-
48036
As a white man, the "Diversity" plan sounds like a quota plan that excludes me. What ever happened to merit and giving the most qualified applicant the job?
-
48033
In my opinion, additional strategies are needed to increase diversity among the SES ranks in the federal sector and in my organization. Diversity in employment not only showcases differences in people, it promotes diversity in thought and perspective. We cannot be our best so long as our strategies, planning, and policies are limited to white males "think". No disrespect, but their exposure and perspectives are different than those of women and minorities. A broad cadre of SESers will bring the best an brightest to the table where ideas can be explored and initiatives developed based on what is best for our country. If we continue to do the same as we have in the past, (all white male panels yield white male selections) we are destined to continue repeating the same mistakes that we made in the past. It is time that we put our country first. Begining with broadening the diversity among the highest level executives is the place to start. There are experienced and qualified minorities currently available in the federal workplace today that are ready to take the reins and lead. The opportunity must be there as well.
-
48021
So where do qualifications fit into this picture? How about developing employees all the way up through GS-15 so that by the time they are eligible for SES, they are "qualified". Let's face it, Congress doesn't care if SES, minority or non-minority, are qualified or not. They don't have to get the work done, we do. They just want the numbers to look nice for them, so that they can go back to their constituencies and say they've done something. They couldn't care less about the mission. The more "gotchas" they create, all the better for them. They still don't get that low approval rating. Congress is very rapidly becoming irrelevant in helping us achieve our mission, but very good at helping to thwart it. Thanks Congress!!
-
48020
When I was starting out 30 yrs ago, the SES people in my agency were the greybeards - wizened old timers who had seen everytthing at least once and knew all the right answers. Not any more. Because of mobility agreements that are used in my agency to shift them around every three years, just like the military they report to, now they seem to be a "cadre of the available" - know-nothing short timers who are semi-political and focused on not rocking the boat with the military establishment. I know many good qualified people, minorities among them, who do not want anything to do with SES in my agency because of the mobility emphasis. SO you can have as many hearings, and make as many EEO panels, as you want but it won't matter in the long run as long as the SES appointments continue to be undesirable and non-condusive to a normal lifestyle. It is scaring away whites and minorities equally because of the stupid emphasis on mobility.
-
48017
I am very disappointed that Gov. Exec. only repoprted the SEA position. The African American Federal Executive Association Inc; Federally Employed Women, Blacks in Government and the Hispanic and Asian American Senior Executive Association all testified in support of the bill in it's present format. SEA does not speak for all senior executives. This bill affects minorities aspiring to become senior executives so it would be appropriate for Government Executive to include their views!
-
48016
Why are we worried about this? If there are qualified, eligible personnel, they will make the cut. Why is race even a factor in the decision making process? There are far more pressing issues confronting the Government today. Nobody needs to address this. The cream floats to the top. If african americans are not there, there must not be any qualified candidates. Remember, "...judge not by the color of the skin, but by the content of the character...".
-
47992
This stuff makes me want to puke. I would hire a homosexual green eunuch if that individual was the most QUALIFIED.
PROMO RIGHT: EVENTS
UPCOMING WEBINARS
NOVEMBER 18
Speed bumps for Teleworking: What are they and how to avoid them?
DECEMBER 3
Achieve Program Success: Unlock the Management Information in Your Data
DECEMBER 10
Practical Transparency: Applying Exchange Networks for Mission Results
PROMO RIGHT: DIRECTORIES
Post a Comment
To post a comment, you must provide a name and a valid e-mail address. Messages must be limited to 400 words. By using this Service you agree not to post material that is obscene, harassing, defamatory, or otherwise objectionable. Although Government Executive does not monitor comments posted to this site (and has no obligation to), it reserves the right to delete, edit, or move any material that it deems to be in violation of this rule.