This series will include challenges facing c-level managers who handle an agency's most valuable asset - its people. Human capitol issues might include diversity training, recruitment and retention, the "brain drain," personnel reform like NSPS and Max HR.

Agencies to take closer look at bonuses

To make sure agencies are using recruitment, relocation and retention incentives effectively, the Office of Personnel Management is asking agencies to review their bonus systems. The government spent $207 million on these bonuses in 2007, and OPM Director John Berry wants to make sure the benefit of using pay flexibilities outweigh the cost. The FDA is currently reviewing reports the agency allowed a $41,000 gift card contract to reward employees in one of its divisions.

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NSPS put to the task

A controversial pay-for-performance program -- frozen by the Obama Administration -- will soon be under review by a three-member task force. The National Security Personnel System was deemed unnecessary and discriminatory by several lawmakers earlier this year. The Defense Department says the task force will seek input from civilian employees and focus on whether NSPS is meeting its objectives and operating in a fair and transparent way. The report is expected to be completed later this year.

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Uncle Sam wants you (to help out)

Think you can do a better job than your federal boss? President Barack Obama wants to hear from you. Mr. Obama recently devoted his weekly radio address to asking government workers -- at every level -- to cut costs and make federal operations more efficient. He said employees' ideas would be key as his Cabinet officials try to cut millions from the budget and trim the federal deficit. The president pledged to meet with employees who come up with the best suggestions later this year.

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Makeup of federal workforce may shift

New marching orders could soon have an impact on the government's workforce. A proposal by Defense Secretary Robert Gates would replace 39,000 private contractors with full-time Feds over the next five years. One expert tells The Washington Post the Obama Administration wants more skills in government rather than in contracting. And considering about 290,000 jobs in the D.C. area are linked to Pentagon outsourcing, companies like Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics could be affected.

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USDA cultivates internship program

An internship program has started to bear fruit for the Department of Agriculture. USDA has been working with the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities to bring interns into full-time federal jobs. A recent study finds that 43 percent of the program's interns were working in public service -- 21 percent of them at Agriculture. Maria Goldberg, an executive director at the USDA, tells GovExec the program's success could provide a recruitment model for other agencies to follow.

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Official: Army's workforce needs a boost

A high-ranking official says the Army's contracting workforce is more depleted than previously thought -- and an additional 2,300 professionals are needed. The Army's Edward Harrington believes the service needs more than 600 military personnel and 1,600 civilian employees to help with significant work backlogs. However, in the short-term, Harrington says the service is looking at ways to get contracting officers to begin their military careers two to three years earlier.

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Federal telework program likely to expand

It's considered by many to be a win-win for agencies and Feds -- and now the government's telework program could get a congressional boost. According to Gov-Exec, the Telework Improvement Act would allow employees to work from home at least one day a week, and would require agencies to boost training. The bill's sponsors -- Representatives John Sarbanes, Frank Wolfe and Jerry Connolly -- say telework is a quality-of-life issue, and it should be used as a recruitment and retention tool.

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NSPS could undergo changes at DoD

Changes could be coming to the pay-for-performance system that covers more than 200,000 Feds at the Department of Defense. Critics say the National Security Personnel System, implemented by the DoD three years ago, needs more transparency to better evaluate employees and award pay increases and bonuses. Federal Computer Week reports DoD wants a review team to gather the necessary information and data, reach out to stakeholders and develop recommendations for improving the system.

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OPM to help agencies grow staff quickly

It's training day for federal agencies who must add employees quickly to meet certain requirements of the 787 billion dollar stimulus package. The Office of Personnel Management has launched a stimulus support initiative to alert agencies of flexibilities to hire people faster -- without disregarding long-standing government rules. For example, OPM's Angela Bailey says agencies can use the Federal Career Intern and the Student Career Experience programs to hire employees for entry-level jobs.

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DHS losing top executives at fast pace

The Department of Homeland Security is not paying enough attention to "people issues" -- and that has contributed to poor retention of senior executives. Leaders told Congress the DHS lost 72 percent of its career executives in a four-year span. Problems with the performance-based pay system and a lack of upward mobility were mentioned as key reasons people moved on to other jobs. To keep employees at the department, leaders stressed better communication between agency leaders and employees.

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