Blue-Collar Workers:

Appraisal Systems Are in Place, But Basic Refinements Are Needed

GGD-87-72: Published: Jun 18, 1987. Publicly Released: Jun 18, 1987.

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GAO evaluated how the Air Force, the Army, the Navy, and the Veterans Administration (VA) have implemented performance appraisal systems for federal wage system, or blue-collar, employees.

GAO reviewed 84 performance plans applicable to 5,843 employees and found that 54 contained standards that were not clear, did not distinguish among all levels of performance, or were based on uncontrollable external factors. GAO also found that the services and VA: (1) failed to use some of the standards to measure performance; (2) inappropriately based some standards on personal traits; (3) did not always inform employees of their performance expectations in a timely manner; (4) failed to provide some employees with midyear performance feedback; and (5) communicated most performance appraisals in a timely manner.

Recommendations for Executive Action

  1. Status: Closed - Implemented

    Comments: The Air Force published a Civilian Personnel Instruction on performance appraisal evaluations.

    Recommendation: The Secretaries of the Air Force, Army, and Navy and the Administrator of Veterans Affairs should ensure that local activities conduct evaluations of performance appraisal systems and correct deficiencies. Such evaluations should pay particular attention to the types of deficiencies GAO found, as well as those cited in other evaluations that have been performed.

    Agency Affected: Department of Defense: Department of the Air Force

  2. Status: Closed - Implemented

    Comments: The Navy published a Civilian Personnel Instruction on performance appraisal evaluations.

    Recommendation: The Secretaries of the Air Force, Army, and Navy and the Administrator of Veterans Affairs should ensure that local activities conduct evaluations of performance appraisal systems and correct deficiencies. Such evaluations should pay particular attention to the types of deficiencies GAO found, as well as those cited in other evaluations that have been performed.

    Agency Affected: Department of Defense: Department of the Navy

  3. Status: Closed - Implemented

    Comments: The Army reported that it emphasizes appraisal system evaluation as part of ongoing personnel management surveys.

    Recommendation: The Secretaries of the Air Force, Army, and Navy and the Administrator of Veterans Affairs should ensure that local activities conduct evaluations of performance appraisal systems and correct deficiencies. Such evaluations should pay particular attention to the types of deficiencies GAO found, as well as those cited in other evaluations that have been performed.

    Agency Affected: Department of Defense: Department of the Army

  4. Status: Closed - Implemented

    Comments: VA is conducting reviews of personnel-related matters.

    Recommendation: The Secretaries of the Air Force, Army, and Navy and the Administrator of Veterans Affairs should ensure that local activities conduct evaluations of performance appraisal systems and correct deficiencies. Such evaluations should pay particular attention to the types of deficiencies GAO found, as well as those cited in other evaluations that have been performed.

    Agency Affected: Veterans Administration

 

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