Hitting Merit Pay With a Fair-Play Standard

D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D) suggested that federal agencies risk class-action lawsuits if they launch a poorly designed system. When setting up pay systems, agencies must comply with several employment laws, including the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the 1967 Age Discrimination in Employment Act.

Davis heard from 13 witnesses, including Charles Tiefer, a professor at the University of Baltimore School of Law; Charles Fay, a professor at Rutgers University; Robert M. Tobias, director of public-sector executive programs at American University; and labor leaders.

To use performance-based pay systems, agencies need to rate employees on criteria that is specific to each job, as opposed to using generic standards, and to ensure that managers are well trained on how to apply performance ratings, Fay said. Still, he noted, "all of these systems are subjective by their nature."

Union Backing Obama

The National Weather Service Employees Organization, which represents forecasters in 122 weather stations and National Hurricane Center employees, this week endorsed Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) for president.

Dan Sobien, president of the union, said Obama has introduced bills to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina and to "make the federal government respond better when the next catastrophic storm hits."

Leaders of two other large federal unions -- the American Federation of Government Employees and the National Treasury Employees Union -- are talking to their members about whether to endorse a presidential candidate.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) has won endorsements from the National Association of Letter Carriers and the National Federation of Federal Employees.

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