Nuclear Regulatory Commission Ranks as Top Workplace

Robert M. Tobias, who heads the AU program, moderated a panel discussion at the luncheon that saluted the Social Security Administration as the "most improved" large agency because of a 10 percent increase in its score from 2005 and the State Department for a 15 percent jump in its score since 2003.

He also thanked Deidre Lee, head of management at the Federal Emergency Management Agency, for her willingness to take questions at the luncheon as a representative of a "challenged agency."

FEMA's score dropped 13 percent from 2005, ranking it 211th of 222 subcomponent agencies. Lee said the agency's merger into the Department of Homeland Security, Hurricane Katrina controversies and persistent criticism in the media have taken a toll on FEMA employees.

She said FEMA is hiring to fill vacancies, improving communications with employees and taking other steps to turn the agency around.

For a second time, the Department of Homeland Security is near the bottom of the "Best Places" rankings, and the poor showing was discussed yesterday at a hearing held by the House Homeland Security management subcommittee. The "Best Places" data showed that the department's headquarters scored lower than even FEMA -- 215th of 222 subcomponents in the rankings.

Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-Miss.) said the department "cannot continue to score last or near last in leadership, performance, talent and satisfaction on the job." He and other subcommittee members, worried that the department may be plagued with a morale crisis, urged the department to take steps to improve employee attitudes.

A full listing of the 2007 "Best Places" listings can be found at http://www.bestplacestowork.org.

Talk Shows

William C. Mixon, president of the investigative services division of US Investigations, known as USIS, will discuss background checks of federal employees on "FedTalk" at 11 a.m. today on Federalnewsradio.com and WFED radio (1050 AM).

Maj. Gen. Elder Granger, deputy director of the Defense Department's Tricare Management Activity, will be the guest on "The IBM Business of Government Hour" at 9 a.m. Saturday on WJFK radio (106.7 FM).

Stephen Barr's e-mail address isbarrs@washpost.com.