Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-06


ury- Post Office Appropriations m
concern over the threat to the Jo
Engraving and Printing. 1t sug-
Igested the possibility Of shorter
working hours, If necessary, to
save jobs.
The BEP has been putting
more and more labor saving
machines into operation. with
the result that many jobs have
been abolished the past few
years. And there are indications
that more jobs will be abolished
in the future.
Noting this trend, the House
Appropriations Committee de-
lclared: THE committee strongly
requests that the Director of the
Bureau take every possible ave-
niue of search. to the extent of
requesting changes in the law If
necessary, to find some means
whereby employees can be re-
tanned until the staff reaches
required levels through attri-
ton mot filling some of the nor
NAL personnel vacancies that oc-
cur through retirements, resigna-
tons. etc.l. This is not to be in
Iterpreted that overproduction is
sought, but rather to make use
Iof such employe-suggested de-
vices as reducing the number of
hours worked per day, etc."
The committees request
heartened Government employe
leaders. who are greatly con-
cerned over the effect automa-
ton may have on the Federal
service generally as far as jobs
are concerned.
GOOD OMEN-The House
Appropriations Committees first
appropriations bill of the year
was a pretty good indication
that Federal agencies and their
employees will fare very well job
wise this year: Treasury's various
bureaus not only would not have
to trim any jobs, they would be.
able to add about 400 jobs. IN
ternal Revenue would be able
to hire about 300 more en-
ployes, most of them in the field
The Post once Department
would be able to hire about $500
additional employees.
LEAVE USE-The House Civil
Service Committee has issued a
report to Congress criticizing
Federal agencies for not giving
employees sufficient opportunity
to take annual leave. This
practice is contrary to the in
tent Of Congress and is harm
full not only to the employees
health and morale but to the
operations Of the agency as
we'll" the committee declared
1t asked departments and agen-
cies which have engaged in these
practices to take corrective
action as soon as possible.
The situation has resulted in
employees who have more than
so days of accumulated annual
leave at the start Of a year, los
ing all Of the unused annual
leave Of a current year which
they were not allwed TO take by
their agencies usually because OF
heavy workloads.
The House committee, under
the direction of Chairman Muir
ray. also:
!. Praised Federal employees
for cnsicentious use of sick leave.
But it declared that a small min
GRITTY Of employees greatly abused
leave privileges. 1t said that
since the Budget Bureau at its
direction had made study of
the situation. there has been an
average 5 hours reduction per
Of sick leave during the
last six months Of 1855 as COM |
pared to the same period last
year.
The committee asked that the
Budget Bureau continue its sup
ervision Of agency leave policies.
with the goal Of cutting en-
ployes' sick use by another 12I
hours a year. Federal workers
now use about Z days year Of
sick leave-the committee wants
it cut down to an average 5aI
to days. which 1t says is the
average found in private I'M
dustry.
2. Federal agencies were urged
to cooperate in sending en-
ployes home who come to work
with colds or other infectious
illnesses which result in other
people in an Office getting SINH
lar ailments and taking sick
leave. The committee said le-I
Ultimate use of sick leave should
be encouraged because 1t is more
economical in the long run by