Evening star., 1955-02-14

NOO Ollly Oll IChuCl1Ollo-Al-1O
not on other kinds of dismissals
The Hoover group said that it is
not good management policy and
conducive to good morale to give
one group Of employees privileges
over the other.
It also urged that agencies
utilize more often the simple
provisions of the Lloyd-LaFOl-
lette Act to get rid of inefficient
and undesirable employees. EN-
ployes can be dismissed within
80 days following a written let
ter of charges and an opportu-
nifty to reply to them. Veterans
now have appeal rights, which
the Hoover Commission would
end after five years of service.
Also, as a move to weed oui
incompetents, the Hoover grour
suggested that supervisors ham
ding of dismissals should be
emphasized in evaIuating theil
performance. Evidence of slack.
ness or indecision in getting rio
of incompetent employees should
count heavily against the super
visor, the Hoover unit said.
Changes in Pay Plan.
Regarding changes in the Gov
ernment'S pay classification sys-
tenn, the Hoover group said the
present 18-grade structure is toe
complicated, particularly in the
lower grades. It said the multi
plicity of grades at lower levels
''has all but destroyed salary dis
tinctions at grades GS-5 and be-
low. It said the result has been
"a terrific amount of paperwork'
in developing and ev. .,luating po-
sitionS.
Consequently, it proposed COM
bining grades / to 6 in three
grades and Z to II in another
three grades. The upper grades
would not be affected, except
that many employees in the upper
grades would be absorbed in the
proposed Senior Civil Service
which would pay salaries rang
ing up to $17.500 a year.
The Hoover group also pro-
posed that. wherever possible,
jobs under the Classification Act
be removed to wage boards and
paid according to prevailing area
rates in comparable private in
dustry jobs.
1t declared this was desirable
in the interests of Economy
and efficiency" since wage levels
and cost of living vary among
regions and localities.
Also recommended was Civil
Service Commission supervision
over the Governments per diem
workers salaries which are fixed
by wage boards. The csc would
establish general rules and reg
ulations for all wage boards and
would determine local prevailing
salaries to be paid to per diem
workers.
Regarding employe training,
the Hoover group recommended
this be done at three stages of
an employees career. 1t proposed
that employees be trained on
their entrance to public service
SO that they have a basic under
standing of the needs of the
American public service and to
have respect for high standards
of honesty. fair dealing and i'm
partiality.
Second, as the employe ad-
vances in his field. he would
receive training to acquire ad-
vanced knowledge of his occu-
patton. skill in supervision of
others, or both.
Third, if an employe enters
the executive ranks, he would be
instructed in the more compre-
hensive techniques of manage
ment and given a more thorough
insight into Federal problems
and working knowledge of
Government programs outside
his own.
Training By Agencies.
The Hoover group recon-
mended that. except for special
skills, the training should be
Systematically conducted by the
agencies themselves.
The Hoover group did not esti-
mate what savings its proposals
would achieve. 1t did estimate,
however, that if its recommended
tions could reduce the present
Is per cent annual Government
personnel turnover to 20 per
cent, that factor alone would
save nearly $50 million a year
in the training of new employees.
The main objective Of the pro-
posals are to achieve a more
efficient Government to better
serve the American public and
to provide a more rewarding
system for the Governments ca
reer workers, the Commission
said.
1t paid high tribute to Federal
employees 'The Government S
personnel on the whole are COM
petent. faithful, and in numer-
GUS specialties, distinguished, -
the Hoover group declared. "The
greatest weakness is in expert
managerial direction. Manage
ment needs to be improved at
all levels, from the non-career
political appointees and the ca
reer administrators down to the
first line supervisors"
Several Dissent.
There were several dissenters
among the 12-member Hoover
group on some of the proposals