Evening star., 1942-10-03
Civil Service
Moves 10 Cut
Job turnover
Reports to Be Made
By All Agencies on
Employe Changes

In move to cut down personnel
turnover and decrease the cost of
recruiting and training Federal
employees, the Civil Service Commits
sion today called on all agencies for
monthly reports showing in detail
the reasons why each ennploye leaves
the service.
The Commission hopes by this
plan to get a better line on the
underlying causes for the turnover,
now around SO per cent on an an
nual basis, and to take steps to
correct conditions that are reme-
diable.
According to commission figures
covering the period from December
through July, 10000 persons were
hired here of whom nearly 10000
were brought in as replacements.
The other II 900 were for new posi-
tions. The turnover has been par
ticularly high in the War Depart
ment where much of the employ
ment is made up of women in the
lower-paid brackets. But it also has
peeIl lelI ELSEWHERE.
Exit Interviews" Planned.
The check now being undertaken
by the commission will be made
through what is known as "exit in
tervieWs" which were recently rec
commended by the Council of Per-
sonnel Administration. The COM
mission several days ago urged all
units to adopt this exit interview
plan. Some embarked on this inno-
vation in advance of the commits
sion's recommendation and gratify-
ing results reputedly have been OBJ
tanned.
The form to be filled out for each
employe leaving the service lists Is
possible causes. After reports are
prepared on each individual, the
agency is required to summarize
them and turn in one blanket re-
port covering all to the commission.
These forms are broken down into
five sections: living environment,
relations with personnel, work con-
ditions, work satisfaction; incentives,
and "other considerations"
Under living environment the en-
ploye is questioned on housing facili-
ties, transportation, recreational-so-
cial facilities, homesickness, general
living conditions and the section to
which they are going.
Work Routine to Be Studied.
Relations with personnel cover
both their relations with fellow en-
ployes and with supervisors.
Under work conditions they are to
be asked about the physical sur
rounding at their place of employ
ment; whether they work on night
shifts and If they have insufficient
work or excessive work.
Under work satisfaction" they
are to be questined on their interest
In their work-that is whether it
is monotonous; if they feel it is
unsuited to. their ability; it's useful
ness in relation to the war effort
and finally on salary, promotional
prospects and job security.
The other conditions which are
thought might enter into an en-
FAcJS LloSAiIioIi W Hult are lleAlGTl,
Intention to get married, maternity,
necessity Of caring for children. hus-
band or family moving from Wash
ngton or to go to school.
Transfers to Be Probed.
Administrative officers are also re-
quired to show whether an employe
Is transferred within his agency or
to another agency; and the length
of service.
Administrative officers have ad-
vanced many reasons for the turn
over here which is about twice that
IN the field. Living conditions and
homesickness have been held out as
two important factors. Chance for
better pay has also Influenced shifts
in some instances and in many cases
employees have left Washington, it
has been shown, either because of
expended Government operations in
the vicinity of their homes or be-
cause industrial activity at home has
made it possible for them to 20 into
private employment.