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Tax Administration: Lessons Learned From IRS' Initial Experience in Redeploying Employees

GGD-97-24 Published: Jan 09, 1997. Publicly Released: Jan 09, 1997.
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Highlights

GAO reviewed the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) initial efforts to redeploy employees under the terms of the Redeployment Understanding, focusing on whether there were lessons to be learned from: (1) IRS' initial use of redeployment procedures and their impact on IRS' operations; and (2) the reaction of redeployed employees and their supervisors to redeployment and the redeployment process.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Internal Revenue Service Should future redeployment procedures be developed, the Commissioner of Internal Revenue should address the problems identified in this report, including limiting redeployment eligibility to employees whose current jobs have been (or will be) substantially altered or eliminated, so that redeployment of employees is timed closely with the implementation of modernization projects or consolidation efforts.
Closed – Not Implemented
IRS agreed with this recommendation but circumstances indicate that future redeployment procedures are not likely, at least in the near future. IRS terminated its Redeployment Agreement with the employees union and no longer has employees designated as Redeployment Eligible. According to IRS, its restructuring efforts follow the guidance contained in the IRS/Employees Union Pre-RIF Activities Agreement.
Internal Revenue Service Should future redeployment procedures be developed, the Commissioner of Internal Revenue should address the problems identified in this report, including allowing IRS to redirect employees who are currently and successfully performing existing jobs to redesigned jobs that are substantially the same before seeking volunteers from unrelated functions (similar to the exceptions made for district Automated Collection System and Taxpayer Service employees).
Closed – Not Implemented
IRS agreed with this recommendation but circumstances indicate that future redeployment procedures are not likely, at least in the near future. IRS terminated its Redeployment Agreement with the employees union and no longer has employees designated as Redeployment Eligible. According to IRS, its restructuring efforts follow the guidance contained in the IRS/Employees Union Pre-RIF Activities Agreement.
Internal Revenue Service As a part of managing any future redeployment effort, the Commissioner of Internal Revenue should consider ways to improve management communications with employees concerning redeployment assistance, information, and training. In doing so, IRS might ask itself such things as whether it is providing information that clearly explains: (1) redeployment policies and procedures; (2) which jobs are expected to be eliminated, continued, and redesigned and when; and (3) the nature and extent of available redeployment assistance.
Closed – Not Implemented
IRS agreed with this recommendation but circumstances indicate that future redeployment procedures are not likely, at least in the near future. IRS terminated its Redeployment Agreement with the employees union and no longer has employees designated as Redeployment Eligible. According to IRS, its restructuring efforts follow the guidance contained in the IRS/Employees Union Pre-RIF Activities Agreement.

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Customer serviceEmployee trainingEmployee transfersFederal agency reorganizationPersonnel managementProductivity in governmentStaff utilizationSystems conversionsTax administrationFederal employees