The Development of a Pay-for-Performance Appraisal System for Municipal Agencies: A Case Study

Well-designed employee performance appraisal instruments assume great importance by providing agencies with information that can guide administrative and developmental decision-making about their most important asset—their human resources. Administratively, performance appraisals serve as the formal evaluation tool used by managers when making decisions about the distribution of pay increases and the promotion and demotion of an employee. Developmentally, performance appraisals assist agencies in identifying issues such as employee training needs and cross training opportunities.1 Despite its importance, both employees and management often view the performance appraisal process as frustrating and unfair. These frustrations are largely attributed to a reliance on performance appraisal instruments that: are not job related; have confusing or unclear rating levels, and; are viewed as subjective and biased by staff.2 This study was undertaken to identify steps for creating a more effective pay-for-performance system for public agencies. Specifically, this case study: (1) identified a systematic procedure for creating performance appraisal instruments; (2) described the appropriate training for those conducting an appraisal interview; (3) implemented performance reviews using the developed instruments and appraisal interview/review training, and; (4) evaluated employee attitudes toward the newly developed system. Survey results identified significant mean differences between employee attitude toward the original pay-forperformance instrument and appraisal interview process and the newly developed system. Results of the case study are analyzed and discussed

The Development of a Pay-for-Performance Appraisal System for Municipal Agencies: A Case Study

Well-designed employee performance appraisal instruments assume great importance by providing agencies with information that can guide administrative and developmental decision-making about their most important asset—their human resources. Administratively, performance appraisals serve as the formal evaluation tool used by managers when making decisions about the distribution of pay increases and the promotion and demotion of an employee. Developmentally, performance appraisals assist agencies in identifying issues such as employee training needs and cross training opportunities.1 Despite its importance, both employees and management often view the performance appraisal process as frustrating and unfair. These frustrations are largely attributed to a reliance on performance appraisal instruments that: are not job related; have confusing or unclear rating levels, and; are viewed as subjective and biased by staff.2 This study was undertaken to identify steps for creating a more effective pay-for-performance system for public agencies. Specifically, this case study: (1) identified a systematic procedure for creating performance appraisal instruments; (2) described the appropriate training for those conducting an appraisal interview; (3) implemented performance reviews using the developed instruments and appraisal interview/review training, and; (4) evaluated employee attitudes toward the newly developed system. Survey results identified significant mean differences between employee attitude toward the original pay-forperformance instrument and appraisal interview process and the newly developed system. Results of the case study are analyzed and discussed

The Development of a Pay-for-Performance Appraisal System for Municipal Agencies: A Case Study

Well-designed employee performance appraisal instruments assume great importance by providing agencies with information that can guide administrative and developmental decision-making about their most important asset—their human resources. Administratively, performance appraisals serve as the formal evaluation tool used by managers when making decisions about the distribution of pay increases and the promotion and demotion of an employee. Developmentally, performance appraisals assist agencies in identifying issues such as employee training needs and cross training opportunities.1 Despite its importance, both employees and management often view the performance appraisal process as frustrating and unfair. These frustrations are largely attributed to a reliance on performance appraisal instruments that: are not job related; have confusing or unclear rating levels, and; are viewed as subjective and biased by staff.2 This study was undertaken to identify steps for creating a more effective pay-for-performance system for public agencies. Specifically, this case study: (1) identified a systematic procedure for creating performance appraisal instruments; (2) described the appropriate training for those conducting an appraisal interview; (3) implemented performance reviews using the developed instruments and appraisal interview/review training, and; (4) evaluated employee attitudes toward the newly developed system. Survey results identified significant mean differences between employee attitude toward the original pay-forperformance instrument and appraisal interview process and the newly developed system. Results of the case study are analyzed and discussed

Near-‐Term Priority Assessing Meridional Overturning Circulation Variability: Implications

The objective of this collaborative project between University of Maryland and NOAA’s AOML is to explore the use of the historical archive of surface drifter tracks to determine what we can learn about climate variability and change. Recent Results An examination of the long-‐term trend in surface velocities, a study that reveals unrealistically large accelerations. The spatial and temporal structure of these accelerations is described in Grodsky et al. (2011), which also provides a potential explanation (unrecorded missing drifter drogues) as well as a temporary solution. We think a more complete solution to this problem of trend bias will require detailed information abou

Iontophoresis of monomeric insulin analogues in vitro: effects of insulin charge and skin pretreatment

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of association state and net charge of human insulin analogues on the rate of iontophoretic transport across hairless mouse skin, and the effect of different skin pretreatments on said transport. No insulin flux was observed with anodal delivery probably because of degradation at the Ag/AgCl anode. The flux during cathodal iontophoresis through intact skin was insignifiant for human hexameric insulin, and only low and variable fluxes were observed for monomeric insulins. Using stripped skin on the other hand, the fluxes of monomeric insulins with two extra negative charges were 50-100 times higher than that of hexameric human insulin. Introducing three additional charges led to further 2-3-fold increase in flux. Wiping the skin gently with absolute alcohol prior to iontophoresis resulted in a 1000-fold increase in transdermal transport of insulin relative to that across untreated skin, i.e. to almost the same level as stripping the skin. The alcohol pretreatment reduced the electrical resistance of the skin, presumably by lipid extraction. In conclusion, monomeric insulin analogues with at least two extra negative charges can be iontophoretically delivered across hairless mouse skin, whereas insignificant flux is observed with human, hexameric insulin. Wiping the skin with absolute alcohol prior to iontophoresis gave substantially improved transdermal transport of monomeric insulins resulting in clinically relevant delivery rates for basal treatment

Genomics and environmental regulation : science, ethics, and law /

To reduce the deleterious effects of environmental contamination, governments across the world have enacted regulations broadly conceived for entire populations. Information arising out of the Human Genome Project and other cutting-edge genetic research is shifting the policymaking process. This fascinating volume draws on experts from academia, government, industry, and nongovernmental organizations to examine the science of genomic research as applied to environmental policy. The first section explores environmental policy applications, including subpopulation genetic profiling, industrial regulations, and standardizing governmental evaluation of genomic data. The second section assesses from multiple angles the legal framework involved in applying genomics to environmental regulation. In the third section, the contributors review closely the implications of genomic research for occupational health, from disease prevention and genetic susceptibility to toxicants, to workers' rights and potential employment discrimination. A fourth section explores the bioethical and philosophical complications of bringing genetic data and research into nonclinical regulatory frameworks.Genomics and Environmental Regulation points to ways in which information on toxicology and genetics can be used to craft more precise and efficient regulations.Includes bibliographical references and index.Genetics and workplace issues / Paul A. Schulte -- Advances in human genome epidemiology: implications for occupational health and disease prevention / Marc Weinstein -- Occupational health and discrimination issues raised by toxicogenomics in the workplace / Mark A. Rothstein -- Genetic susceptibility and radiological health and safety / Kenneth L. Mossman -- Conceptual and normative dimensions of toxicogenomics / Andrea O. Smith and Jason Scott Robert -- Environmental disease, biomarkers, and the precautionary principle / David B. Resnik -- Rights and the exceptionally vulnerable / James W. Nickel -- (Almost) equal protection for genetically susceptible subpopulations: a hybrid regulatory-compensation proposal / Carl Cranor -- Protecting people in spite of, or thanks to, the "veil of ignorance" / Adam M. Finkel.Toxicogenomics and environmental regulation / Gary E. Marchant -- Addressing genomic needs at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency / Kerry L. Dearfield ... [et al.] -- Application of genomics for health and environmental safety of chemicals: an industry perspective / Richard D. Phillips -- Toxicogenomics and the public interest: technical and sociopolitical challenges / John M. Balbus -- Challenges in applying toxicogenomic data in federal regulatory settings / Lynn L. Bergeson -- Genetic data and toxic torts: intimations of statistical reductionism / Andrew Askland and Gary E. Marchant -- Genomics and environmental justice: some preliminary thoughts / Gary E. Marchant and Jamie A. Grodsky -- Setting air quality standards in the postgenomic era / Gary E. Marchant --To reduce the deleterious effects of environmental contamination, governments across the world have enacted regulations broadly conceived for entire populations. Information arising out of the Human Genome Project and other cutting-edge genetic research is shifting the policymaking process. This fascinating volume draws on experts from academia, government, industry, and nongovernmental organizations to examine the science of genomic research as applied to environmental policy. The first section explores environmental policy applications, including subpopulation genetic profiling, industrial regulations, and standardizing governmental evaluation of genomic data. The second section assesses from multiple angles the legal framework involved in applying genomics to environmental regulation. In the third section, the contributors review closely the implications of genomic research for occupational health, from disease prevention and genetic susceptibility to toxicants, to workers' rights and potential employment discrimination. A fourth section explores the bioethical and philosophical complications of bringing genetic data and research into nonclinical regulatory frameworks.Genomics and Environmental Regulation points to ways in which information on toxicology and genetics can be used to craft more precise and efficient regulations