OPM puts foot down on hiring requests

Despite the Fitial administration’s freeze hiring order, department and activity heads continue to request for new hiring and immediate employment approval for those whose contracts are still being processed, according to the Office of Personnel Management.

In a May 5 memorandum addressed to all department and activity heads, OPM director Mathilda A. Rosario described this as “an unsatisfactory situation that indicates a level of administration inefficiency that cannot be tolerated.”

“This ongoing problem is unacceptable and must be corrected. You must take directed corrective action to ensure that your administrative staff initiate and process employment documents in a timely manner,” said Rosario.

In her letter, the director disclosed that she still receives requests for “immediate hire for new employees” and “requests to continue work” for Provisional and Probationary Appointments and Excepted Service Contract renewals with the documentation in process.

She said these requests are often still being prepared by the department and the routing has not even been initiated.

Additionally, Rosario said that she continues to receive requests to renew employees “whose contracts or appointments actually expired several months before.”

She said any renewal must be prepared no less than 90 days prior to the end of contract.

She said she would enforce a policy of not granting work permission to any employee if it is submitted more than 30 days late.

“If this happens, do not have the employee call me or my staff. You must explain to the employee why he or she cannot work. Demand that your senior administrative staff live up to their responsibilities. Monitor their performance to ensure that your staff reach a satisfactory level of efficiency and productivity so that no such memorandums for exceptions will be required,” said Rosario.

On requests for early start dates for new employees, “I ask that you remember that the governor has authorized a freeze hiring,” she said in her memorandum.

She said only vitally needed positions can be filled and only in cases of “justified bona fide immediate need by the Commonwealth.”

House minority leader Arnold I. Palacios had criticized the administration for continuous hiring despite the lack of funding. He cited that Gov. Benigno R. Fitial has certified some 300 positions that need to be filled.