Voice of America: Selected Personnel Practices Warrant Management Attention

Highlights

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Voice of America's (VOA) and Radio Marti's personnel management practices to determine the validity of numerous employees' allegations regarding: (1) time and attendance abuses; (2) irregular employment, supervisory, and management practices; (3) improper contract awards to purchase order vendors; and (4) discrimination and sexual harassment.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected	Recommendation	Status
United States Information Agency	The Director, U.S. Information Agency (USIA), should direct the Director, VOA, to ensure full implementation of VOA initiatives to improve time and attendance control.	Closed – Implemented Several initiatives were taken to better adapt government regulations to the VOA operating environment. Supervisory training was given to all supervisors, regarding time and attendance control. A computer-assisted security system has been implemented, making it easier to monitor time and attendance abuse on the weekends and evening shifts.
United States Information Agency	The Director, USIA, should direct the Director, VOA, to determine if artificial barriers are contributing to the underrepresentation of women and minorities and then take the necessary steps to increase the representation of women and minorities, especially at the senior levels.	Closed – Implemented VOA has developed an affirmative action plan which promotes the hiring and advancement of minorities and women. Many women have moved into managerial positions and affirmative action is a critical element of managerial performance ratings.
United States Information Agency	The Director, USIA, should direct the Director, VOA, to create a central unit to review and approve the use of purchase order vendors to ensure that VOA complies with federally prescribed standards in awarding contracts to purchase order vendors.	Closed – Implemented VOA established a central unit to be responsible for oversight to ensure compliance with established policies and procedures for use of purchase order vendors. In addition, a proposal to centralize all VOA small purchase activity was developed. VOA issued new instructions placing tighter control over the use of purchase order vendors.
United States Information Agency	The Director, USIA, should direct the Director, VOA, to continue to assess personnel practices in the areas of pay and classification of broadcasters and employment of noncitizens.	Closed – Implemented VOA developed new policies for non-citizens with Union support. VOA has new grade benchmarks and the personnel office is auditing jobs against these standards.
United States Information Agency	The Director, USIA, should direct the Director, VOA, to review the use of Radio Marti's Schedule B hiring authority with a view toward ensuring that those hired under that authority have the requisite knowledge of Cuba and that all the positions designated to be covered by the Schedule B authority are warranted.	Closed – Implemented Radio Marti initiated a review of all Schedule B positions to determine whether successful performance in the job requires preexisting knowledge of Cuba. Action was taken to move to the competitive service those positions which can no longer be justified as excepted service positions. This reporting will be an annual requirement.

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Human Capital

Attendance recordsEmployment discriminationEmployment of foreign nationalsHiring policiesInternal controlsIrregular procurementJob classificationLabor relationsPersonnel managementPublic radio