OPM tells agencies how to implement workforce orders
The White House rolled out procedures it requires agencies to use to implement three executive orders aimed at performance improvement, dismissal of problem employees and managing unions.
The Office of Personnel Management put some structure to President Donald Trump's workforce executive orders, lining up deadlines, data reporting requirements and other procedures for agencies to begin implementation.
OPM Director Jeff Pon released guidance documents aligning with each of the three executive orders.
One document explains how to set up an Interagency Labor Relations Working Group and describes its functions and reporting requirements. It also tells agencies to make sure any union agreements currently under development adhere to the new guidance.
Another document sets deadlines for agencies to implement new requirements and restrictions on the use of "official time," the paid time federal workers who belong to unions can spend on union business. Unless agencies have an existing bargaining agreement, that deadline is July 9, it said. The order would take effect at the expiration of existing bargaining agreements, according to the guidance.
Guidance for an order addressing federal employee performance and speedy dismissal in cases of misconduct advises agencies that the provisions of the order have the force of a governmentwide rule, and its provisions are effective once individual agency collective bargaining agreements expire.
Federal labor unions, which are concerned about being weakened under the measures, are opposing implementation. They filed lawsuits that were combined by a district court judge and will be heard in a July 25 hearing.