White House Issues Executive Order on Federal Hiring
On Friday, President Trump signed an executive order on Modernizing and Reforming the Assessment and Hiring of Federal Job Candidates. The order calls upon agencies to increase use of skills assessments and interviews with subject matter experts in the hiring process, with less of an emphasis placed on degree requirements. The goal, according to the Trump Administration, is to broaden the pool of potential candidates and create a more equitable hiring process.
OPM Announces 2020 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey to Begin in July
In a memo to agency leaders, OPM Acting Director Michael Rigas announced the 2020 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (OPM FEVS) will begin on July 13, 2020. The survey rollout was delayed earlier in the spring as agencies were focusing on mission critical work during the coronavirus response. Rigas also announced several changes to the survey.
OPM Issues Memo on Annual Leave and Other PTO Guidance
The Office of Personnel Management issued guidance on several elements of annual leave and other paid time off (PTO) last week in a memo from Acting Director Michael Rigas to agency heads. The memo clarifies and provides additional resources for employees on annual leave “use or lose” provisions impacted by COVID-19, restoration of annual leave, compensatory time off for travel, compensatory time off for overtime, credit hours, and disabled veteran leave.
OPM Issues Hiring, Onboarding During COVID-19 Guidance
A March 20 memo to agency leaders signed by Michael Rigas, the current Acting Director of the Office of Personnel Management, notified agencies that they can use Schedule A excepted service appointments to fill temporary positions in response to the coronavirus outbreak, or COVID-19. The guidance allows agencies to use the hiring authority for one year or until the termination of the current public health emergency, with a possible one-year extension.