Strategies for work force transition
Fifth, the government, like any employer, should have a strategy to provide for its work force. The work force is a resource and should be protected as such. When a contractor is awarded a contract to provide services, it may employ the existing government work force. They know the work and can make the required transition much easier than it might otherwise be. They also can be a hindrance if the government permits that to happen.
A sound work force strategy will help mitigate employees concerns with competitive sourcing and will aid in the transition to competitive government. There will be a need for an effective communications program with the employees and their families, as well as with other stakeholders as discussed later in the chapter.
Here are some questions which will help in forming an effective work force strategy.
- What role will the government agency initially have in considering privatization as a strategy?
- Will the agency be allowed to compete with private sector firms and submit a proposal to perform the service?
- If so, under what terms and conditions?
- How will the competition process be coordinated with the regular procurement process?
- Who will oversee the competition process?
- If the activity is privatized, what will be the impact on the employment status of the existing work force?
- Will there be layoffs?
- If so (or if not), what will be the impact of privatization be on the portability of their pensions and benefits?
- Will retraining be provided to government employees not retained by the privatized program?
- What will be the impact on union employees?
- Do requirements of current labor contracts pose a challenge to privatization?
- If so, what are the implications of these requirements for the privatization?
- How will the government comply with contractual and civil service requirements?
- Can these contracts be revised or renegotiated?
- Can current obligations be discharged by a settlement?
- Will public policies, such as equal employment opportunities, be changed if the service provider is changed and government employees transfer to the private sector?
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