**GAO-09-82**                      Published: Nov 21, 2008. Publicly Released: Dec 15, 2008.                  

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## Highlights

Agencies are allowed to raise pay caps for their Senior Executive Service (SES) members if the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) certifies and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) concurs that their appraisal systems meet applicable criteria. As requested, this report examines selected agencies' policies and procedures for (1) factoring organizational performance into SES appraisal decisions, (2) making meaningful distinctions in SES performance and (3) building safeguards into SES systems. Also, this report examines OPM and OMB oversight in certifying the pay systems through their statutory roles. GAO selected six agencies based on mission, structure, and number of career SES variations. GAO analyzed the agencies' policies and fiscal year 2007 aggregate SES appraisal data and OPM guidance.

## Recommendations

## Recommendations for Executive Action

See All 5 Recommendations

## Full Report

Highlights

Full Report (57 pages)

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## Topics

Human Capital

AccountabilityAgency missionsexecutive relationsEmployeesEvaluation criteriaExecutive agenciesExecutive compensationFederal agenciesHuman capital managementIndependent regulatory commissionsPayPay for performancePerformance appraisalPerformance managementPerformance measuresPersonnel managementRegulatory agenciesSalary increasesSource selectionStrategic planningSystems designPolicies and procedures