According to a statement posted on the General Services Administration blog, Acting GSA Administrator Dan Tangherlini is “rethinking” hiring and “reforming” the bonus and awards program structure of the Agency in the wake of the recent conference spending scandal and Congressional inquiry.
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Get Your Report Now!An article by Jason Miller of FederalNewsRadio reports that Tangherlini is cutting the number of performance awards by 85 percent and suspending performance awards for the remainder of 2012.
In the blog, Tangherlini says “this review has uncovered clear deficiencies in the area of performance awards. By our count, we currently have more than 15 different bonus structures; there are questions about the agency’s high award rate, and questions about whether performance goals are set at a high enough level throughout the agency. I believe performance awards should be issued for exemplary service that goes above and beyond the basic, expected level of performance. …
“We are also going to undertake a comprehensive review of all our performance management and awards system, including individual and organizational performance awards. And we will work closely with the unions to fulfill our obligations."
The “awards stores” where GSA employees could earn prizes like iPods will be eliminated because, says Tangherlini, “we have a responsibility to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars.”
The moves are part of a comprehensive review of the agency that includes a temporary hiring freeze. “As we’re rethinking how we are structured and how our compensation process works, I believe it is prudent to temporarily suspend new hiring and to cut executive bonuses to ensure they are aligned with the outcomes of our rigorous review,” Tangherlini explains on the blog.