From the President

To support legislation and regulations beneficial to federal civilian employees and annuitants and potential annuitants under any federal civilian retirement system and to oppose those detrimental to their interests. To promote the general welfare of federal civilian employees and annuitants and potential annuitants, to advise and assist them with respect to their rights under retirement, health and other employee and retiree benefits laws and regulations, and to represent their interests before appropriate authorities. To cooperate with other organizations and associations in furtherance of these general objectives.

Rethinking Government Work

We are two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, and as of press time, many government agencies are returning to their offices, but the workplace will not be the same as it was before the pandemic. The federal government is entering the age of the hybrid workforce, which presents unique opportunities across federal spaces. Longstanding mandates aimed at right-sizing the federal workforce and property portfolios will require reconfiguring the workforce as well as existing buildings to create a more effective working environment.

In 2020, COVID-19 forced government agencies to quickly adapt to full-time telework models that were previously thought untenable, proving many jobs can be completed successfully outside of a traditional office setting. Federal agencies may take advantage of the changing nature of work by expanding telework options over the long term. Such an approach could save taxpayer money on real estate, improve services to the American people through increased productivity, and provide a more attractive work environment for current and prospective employees.

Additionally, the government must make changes to ensure that it is able to recruit employees with specialized skills and pay them competitive wages. The Federal Salary Council found that federal employees make 23 percent less than their private-sector counterparts. A change to the federal pay system, such as determining federal pay based on market pay for specific occupations rather than generalized and inaccurate averages for an occupationally diverse workforce, deserves attention. At the very least, Congress and the federal government should prevent the pay gap from widening by basing annual pay raises on the most recent change in the Employment Cost Index (ECI) measure of private-sector wages and salaries. Proper implementation of telework can help the federal government attract top talent without the concern of geographic location.

Hiring processes, especially the time it takes the government to hire, must be improved to recruit new talent. Recent metrics on federal hiring measure the average time to hire at 98 days, more than double that of the private sector. In-demand talent will not wait months for a job offer when the private sector can offer jobs much more quickly.

Things to think about. Stay safe.

KENNETH J. THOMAS NARFE NATIONAL PRESIDENT

natpres@narfe.org

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