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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the Awards and Compensation study, and why is it being done?
In the fall of 2006, the agency’s Executive Leadership Board voted to create a new standing committee to analyze the current criteria for performance awards and to make recommendations about strengthening the awards process and addressing any shortcomings. To inform this effort, the agency asked the National Academy of Public Administration (the
Academy) to study its award and senior-level compensation programs, including its use of recruitment, relocation, and retention incentives.
CDC’s goal for the Academy’s study is to obtain an independent analysis of the administration of these programs. The study will be guided by an expert Panel of fellows from the Academy. Representatives of the Academy will also work closely with CDC’s Executive Leadership Board and meet monthly with its Compensation and Performance Review Subcommittee. The Academy Panel will provide a comprehensive set of recommendations to improve these programs in the fall of 2007.
CDC leadership takes pride in the extraordinary men and women comprising the agency’s workforce and their accomplishments and uses various incentive programs, including monetary awards, to reward and recognize its workforce. The agency has emphasized the need for pay and awards programs that are equitable, transparent, and demonstrate the
highest degree of integrity.
What is the National Academy of Public Administration?
The National Academy of Public Administration is an independent, non-partisan organization chartered by Congress to assist federal, state, and local governments in improving their effectiveness, efficiency, and accountability. The Academy has been cultivating and supporting excellence in the management of government agencies for nearly
40 years.
The Academy's most distinctive feature is its membership of 550 Fellows. They include current and former Cabinet officers, members of Congress, governors, mayors, state legislators, diplomats, business executives, local public managers, foundation executives, and scholars. They form the heart of the Academy's studies - from inception through implementation - serving on project panels and guiding other major activities.
Federal agencies, Congress, state and local governments, academia, and foundations seek the Academy's assistance in addressing both short-term and long-term challenges-including budgeting and finance, alternative agency structures, performance measurement, human resources management, information technology, devolution of federal programs, strategic planning, and managing for results.
Why is the National Academy of Public Administration involved in this study?
The Academy has the demonstrated capability and experience to perform an independent, non-partisan, expert analysis of CDC’s awards and compensation practices. The Academy Panel and staff members have extensive and wide-ranging experience in compensation and awards best practices, as well as experience with similar research-focused organizations such as the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST), the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Panel and staff members involved in this study have
analytical, legal, medical, public health scientific, human capital management experience and training to assure the right mix of talent for the study.
What are the main components of the study?
The study involves four separate, but related activities:
1. Review and understand the government-wide, Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), and CDC-specific laws, rules, regulations, policies and procedures and the governance structure applicable to the CDC awards programs.
2. Conduct statistical and other analyses to determine historical trends and help identify issues with the awards programs, senior employee (executive level) pay administration, and the use of recruitment, relocation, and retention allowances for all recipients.
3. Gather employee and manager experiences and expectations on these topics through
focus group discussions with CDC staff and managers across the country. The Academy
will also conduct interviews with CDC officials, staff at remote and international sites, and stakeholders, including labor union officials.
4. Benchmark cash awards and senior level compensation with similar science-based
federal agencies, universities, and others to identify effective practices not currently used
by the CDC.
At the conclusion of the study, the Academy Panel will provide CDC with a comprehensive set of recommendations for improving these programs.
Which awards and whose compensation will be studied?
This study will address the following awards:
• One-time monetary value awards, outside of the appraisal process, such as Special Act or Service, time-off, suggestions and inventions, on-the-spot, and travel savings incentives
• Senior Executive Service Awards, including Rank Awards and bonuses
• Honor and other non-monetary awards
• Performance appraisal-based awards, such as Quality Step Increases and lump sum payments, with regard to their distribution and frequency, as well as their budgetary
impact on funds available for one-time incentives
• Recruitment, retention and relocation incentives
The Academy will analyze CDC’s policies, procedures, administration, and oversight of its compensation program for its senior-level employees, including those in the Senior Executive Service (SES), distinguished scientists under Title 42, the Senior Biomedical Research Service (SBRS), and Title 38 medical professionals. (Members of the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service, assigned to CDC, while critical
to the agency’s mission, are not included in this particular study. As part of the uniformed services, these individuals are governed by a different departmental personnel system.) The Academy will focus particularly on analyzing processes and criteria for pay decisions, the challenges an agency faces when its cadre of senior employees are in multiple pay plans, and effective practices in other science-based agencies.
What is a focus group discussion?
Focus groups are a way for a small group of people to share their perspectives on a topic of interest to them. For example the group discussions being conducted by the Academy will focus in part on the characteristics of an “ideal” award process. A discussion facilitator
identifies the topics and makes sure everyone who wants to express an opinion or suggest an idea has an opportunity to do so. New ideas and new combinations of ideas are usually generated as participants share their individual perspectives.
The group discussions the Academy is conducting for CDC will include 6 to 10 people selected through established random selection procedures.. All comments, suggestions, and ideas will be aggregated and be kept anonymous. Employees and managers will be in separate groups. Participants will have the option of stating their ideas during the discussion
or providing them confidentially to the group facilitator.
The Academy will aggregate and analyze the ideas from the group discussions This information, combined with insights from the statistical analysis, will provide the basis for recommendations the Academy Panel will make to CDC concerning its award and compensation programs.
How will participants for the focus groups and interviews be selected?
Participants will be selected randomly from a list of all CDC employees, but in a way that assures that different jobs and responsibilities are represented. The prospective participants will be contacted by phone by Academy staff. Additional individual interviews will be conducted with CDC employees as well as with managers responsible for compensation and awards programs. Participation is entirely voluntary; however, if
you are contacted, you are encouraged to participate because this is the best way to make your thoughts and ideas known to the Academy staff and Panel.
How will my personal information remain confidential?
Names and contact information will only be used to randomly select and contact participants. No oral or written comments will be linked to any personally-identifiable information. As indicated in the previous questions, information collected during the group discussions will be aggregated for purpose of analysis.
How can I participate in this study?
If you wish to share your ideas and observations (and you are not selected to participate in one of the group discussions), you may send them to cdcawards@napawash.org. This mailbox is maintained by Academy staff, and all mail received will remain confidential.
When will the study be completed?
The National Academy of Public Administration is scheduled to submit recommendations to CDC in early fall of 2007.
Where can I obtain more information?
Additional information about NAPA is available at www.napawash.org.
If you have any questions or comments regarding this project, please send them to cdcawards@napawash.org.
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