2008 workforce plans focus on telework, recruitment

The Chief Human Capital Officers (CHCO) Council has approved a fiscal 2008 strategic plan that includes improving federal telework programs and developing innovative strategies to recruit talented workers to government service. The strategic plan was developed by the council’s six subcommittees, which were created last year to enable the council to respond more rapidly to workforce needs. The subcommittees focus on emergency preparedness, hiring and succession planning, the Office of Management and Budget’s Human Resources Line of Business, the human resources workforce, learning and development, and performance management. Fiscal 2007 "was a breakthrough year for the CHCO Council’s six subcommittees as they accomplished activities that helped raise the profile of the council, and they provided recommendations for a variety of human capital initiatives” to the Office of Personnel Management, said OPM director Linda Springer, who heads the council. “We fully expect the subcommittees to build on those successes in FY 2008.” Council plans for 2008 call on CHCOs, their deputies and their employees to work more closely with OPM on its objectives. In addition to specific goals, the driving force behind the plans is fostering a partnership with OPM that identifies hurdles to progress and highlights and shares best practices that promote results-oriented, performance-based cultures, OPM said. The agency said the council plans to develop and improve measures for federal telework programs and highlight practices to assist managers in understanding telework's value.And on hiring and recruiting, the council plans to work with OPM to:In announcing the council’s plans for 2008, OPM also cited a list of its accomplishments from last year. These include: