Evening star., 1924-11-16
NEW RATING WORK
NOW UNDER WAY
Publicity for Efficiency Deci-
sions Point Yet to Be
Determined.

Beginning yesterday the Govern
ment departments and establishments
set about the task OF applying the
new efficiency rating to all employees
OF the Government in the civil serv-
ice in the District OF Columbia.
When the ratings are completed
as Of November Is, any changes or
salary which may result from the
measuring stick" will be made et-
fective January ].
At the same time it vas learnsS
that the Personnel Classification
Board has called a meeting OF de-
partmentai and establishment heads
for next Thursday morning at the
boards offices to consider the dis
puted matter of how far the Gov
eminent shall go in carrying out the
provisions Of the law to make the
efficiency rates open 70 inspection
The new rating, developed by tha
Bureau of Efficiency. and approved
by the Personnel Classification Board,
has been in the hands OF departmental
chiefs long enough for them to be-
come acquainted with the system In
most OF the departments, 1t was be-
ltevcd by members Of the Class!fics
/ tion Board. the actual work OF rat
! ing employees started todav.
May Take Six Weeks.
The task, however, is Of much mag
nitude, especially in the larger bu-
| reaus, that il probably will take any
where from one 10 six weeks 10 rate
all individuals who come under the
system. Tho officer doing the rat.
ing first will in each instance be the
supervisor of the employe 10 be rat
ed The one next above the super
visor will rate the supervisor, and so
on up the scale until the highest
persons under the rating will have
been placed by their supeFcrE
There are two grades under the
Justification system, however, which
do not come under the provisions OF
/ the efficiency rating-the two top
grades in the professional. and the
two top on IS in the clerical admin
istrative and fiscal service-which CO
incide as 70 salaries. Thus 1t is seen
that persons in the top grades or
these services making from $500
and up Will be rated.
Little New Machinery.
It is believed that little new ma
Chinery will have TO be set UP IN
| the Government departments and es-
Establishments to handle the new efnci-
ency rating, as the original executive
order which in 1921 authorized the
Bureau Of Efficiency 10 promulgato
| efficiency ratings for the Government
service has resulted IN establishment
! of reviewing boards. These will no
! doubt be used in most of the depart
mentS in working out the new efici-
ency rating.
The amount of increase IN salary
which may be granted by depart
mental and establishment heads will
be restricted by operation of the
average provision OF the approprls-
tion acts for this year. This pro
vision stipulates that the average OF
the salaries Of the total number or
persons in the grade shall not exceed
the average OF the compensation rates
specified by the classification act for
the grade.
Promotions and Demotions-
How much this will prevent the
promotion OF persons who may re-
ceive a percentage which otherwise
would entitle them 10 promotion was
an tndeterminate factor in the prospect
yesterday.
In grades. however, where the
average provision has not been e1
ceeded, and where the lump sum
appropriation will permit II is posi-
BILE that there may be considerable
raises of salary on January !.
Demotions viii take place. IL Is
predicted, only in those cases whore
under the new rules in effect with
the efficiency rating system II VIII
be necessary 10 denote.
Publicity OF the results OF the eff
cheney rating, as provided in the
classification act, will be the next
problem for the classification board
! to consider. To get the opinions o.
! the departments and establishments
! the meeting has been called at the
| Offices OF the Personnel Classification
| Board for next Thursday morning
at 10 o'clock. when the whole matter
| Will be heard
Wide difference OF opinion is
| known to exist among the various
! chiefs as to what should be dona
| about publicity of the efficiency rat
| inss. The law provides as follows:
| The current ratings for each grade
or class thereof shall be open TO in
spection by the representatives. OF
| the classification board, and by the
! employees of the department under
conditions to be determined by the
| board after consultation with the de-,
| partment heads"