Federal Pay-Setting Surveys Could Be Performed More Efficiently
FPCD-81-50
Published: Jun 23, 1981. Publicly Released: Jun 30, 1981.
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Highlights
GAO was requested to review certain aspects of federal wage and salary surveys and to identify more efficient alternatives.
Recommendations
Matter for Congressional Consideration
| Matter | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Congress should direct the Office of Personnel Management, in coordination with the Department of Defense, to study the feasibility of having BLS do the nonappropriated fund surveys or linking or indexing nonappropriated fund wages to the Federal Wage System appropriated fund pay system. | The agency believes that the differences in the industrial, occupational, and geographic coverage between the nonappropriated fund survey and the Federal Wage System Survey are too dissimilar to derive a valid linkage between its two pay systems. This method would result in increased cost to the government for higher wage increases for nonappropriated fund employees. | |
| Congress should amend the Federal Pay Comparability Act of 1970 (5 U.S.C. 5305) to eliminate the requirement to conduct the comparability survey each year and to provide for interim-year pay adjustments by using the BLS Employment Cost Index. | Effective in 1986, the Employment Cost Index will be used biannually to update the 1985 Professional, Administrative, Technical, and Clerical Survey results. This was approved by the President's Pay Agent. | |
| Congress should amend the Prevailing Rate Systems Act of 1972 making BLS responsible for conducting the blue-collar appropriated fund surveys as part of its area wage survey programs. | GAO has no indication that Congress plans to insert legislation to amend the Prevailing Rate System Act of 1972. |
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Topics
Comparative analysisFederal employeesLabor costsPayroll systemsPersonnel managementWage surveysSurveysPrivate sectorFederal payParticipation rates