Ways To Improve Federal Management and Use of Productivity Based Reward Systems

FPCD-81-24: Published: Dec 31, 1980. Publicly Released: Dec 31, 1980.

Additional Materials:

Contact:

Office of Public Affairs
(202) 512-4800
youngc1@gao.gov

GAO studied the concept of reward systems based on productivity standards to identify ways by which federal work-force productivity can be improved.

GAO found that: (1) productivity-based reward systems have had positive effects on productivity in certain work situations, and there seems to be potential for greater use of the concept in the federal government; (2) current Office of Personnel Management (OPM) guidance on incentive awards for federal employees does not adequately cover productivity-based reward systems; and (3) some of the federal agency initiatives do not include key features of well designed productivity-based reward systems, while others include features or have had experience that could be helpful to the design and operation of other agencies' systems.

Recommendation for Executive Action

  1. Status: Closed

    Comments: Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.

    Recommendation: The Director, OPM, should: (1) develop additional Federal Personnel Manual incentive guidance specifically for productivity-based reward systems so federal agencies will be aware of the opportunity to establish these systems and the limitations on their use; (2) prepare a handbook of instructions describing key steps, principles, and features of productivity-based reward systems to help federal agencies design, implement, and manage their initiatives; and (3) identify and analyze ongoing federal agency productivity-based rewad systems to be able to provide assistance where needed and highlight certain useful features and experiences.

    Agency Affected: Office of Personnel Management

 

Explore the full database of GAO's Open Recommendations »

Sep 29, 2016

Sep 28, 2016

Sep 27, 2016

Sep 26, 2016

Sep 23, 2016

Sep 21, 2016

Sep 7, 2016

Aug 30, 2016

Looking for more? Browse all our products here