IBM Retirees to Test the Waters at Treasury

The company sponsors a "transition-to-teaching" program that permits IBM employees to take time off to obtain teacher certifications and to practice teaching. IBM also sponsors a "corporate service corps" that will send 600 employees in small teams to developing countries to work on economic and education issues.

For the project with Treasury, the partnership will ensure that job openings are sent to IBM employees and help them understand federal hiring procedures and requirements. IBM will provide the employees with specialized training and networking opportunities.

If the pilot project succeeds, Litow said IBM hopes other federal agencies and other corporations will sign up to help bring older Americans into the government. "It is good business to operate this way," he said.

Treasury has not set any goals for how many IBM employees should be brought on board, Hastings said. Asked whether the department would show favoritism toward job applicants from IBM, he said no, noting that Springer had pointed out that federal hiring must adhere to legal requirements to ensure fairness and to give preferences to military veterans.

Springer, the head of the Office of Personnel Management, has urged agencies to step up recruitment of young Americans and has supported efforts to waive restrictions on federal retirees and let them collect full pay along with their pensions if agencies bring them back.

"Clearly, we are open to all comers," she said.

Talk Shows

Eddie Eitches, president of American Federation of Government Employees Local 476 at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, will be the guest on "FedTalk" at 11 a.m. today on Federalnewsradio.com and WFED radio (1050 AM).

William E. Vajda, the Education Department's chief information officer, will be the guest on the IBM "Business of Government Hour" at 9 a.m. Saturday on WJFK radio (106.7 FM).