Performance Management Solutions

OPM establishes requirements for performance plans to ensure agencies have established a results-oriented performance culture. Performance plan requirements for General Schedule (GS) employees differ from members of the Senior Executive Service (SES) and senior level and scientific or professional (SL/ST). Plans for GS employees must be aligned to organizational goals, include at least one critical element that holds employees accountable for achieving results, and incorporate performance standards that contain credible measures. Plans must also provide multiple levels to appraise performance, involve employees in the development of the performance plan, and ensure feedback by requiring a mid-year review.  In addition to these requirements, supervisors must integrate standards that reflect employee and customer perspectives and manager accountability and involvement. SES and SL/ST plans must meet all of the GS employee and supervisor plan requirements. However, SES and SL/ST performance plans must also count measurable results as at least 60 percent of the summary rating and include a critical element that holds the executive accountable for aligning subordinate performance plans with organizational goals and for rigorously appraising employee performance. PMS consultants are well-versed with OPM’s policies and can help agencies develop performance plans that meet these requirements. PMS consultants have successfully accomplished this by creating plans from scratch and conducting an audit on agency performance plans. If you would like more information on performance plans, please contact Rebecca Ayers at Rebecca.Ayers@opm.gov.