Department of State : additional steps needed to address continuing staffing and experience gaps at hardship posts / report to the Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia, Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, U.S. Senate.

Format:

Book

Government document

Author/Creator:

United States. Government Accountability Office

Contributor:

United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

United States. Department of State--Personnel management.

United States.

United States. Department of State--Officials and employees--Salaries, etc.

United States. Department of State.

Diplomatic and consular service, American--Recruiting.

Diplomatic and consular service, American.

Employees--Salaries, etc.

Personnel management.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (ii, 44 pages) : color illustrations

Other Title:

Additional steps needed to address continuing staffing and experience gaps at hardship posts

Place of Publication:

[Washington, D.C.] : U.S. Govt. Accountability Office, [2009]

Summary:

The Department of State (State) has designated about two-thirds of its 268 overseas posts as hardship posts. Staff working at such posts often encounter harsh conditions, including inadequate medical facilities and high crime. Many of these posts are vital to U.S. foreign policy objectives and need a full complement of staff with the right skills to carry out the department's priorities. As such, State offers staff at these posts a hardship differential -- an additional adjustment to basic pay -- to compensate officers for the conditions they encounter and as a recruitment and retention incentive. GAO was asked to assess (1) State's progress in addressing staffing gaps at hardship posts since 2006 and the effect of any remaining gaps, and (2) the extent to which State has used incentives to address staffing gaps at hardship posts. GAO analyzed State data; reviewed relevant documents; met with officials in Washington, D.C.; and conducted fieldwork in five hardship posts. GAO recommends the Secretary of State (1) take steps to minimize the experience gap at hardship posts by making the assignment of experienced officers to such posts an explicit priority consideration, and (2) develop and implement a plan to evaluate incentives for hardship post assignments. State generally agreed with our findings and recommendations.

Notes:

Title from title screen (GAO, viewed Sept. 24, 2009).

"September 2009."

Includes bibliographical references.

"GAO-09-874."

OCLC:

439244486