Civil Service Reform
Civil service reform under Washington Works gives Washington State government the opportunity to create a totally new, improved human resources system, supported by a new computer system. This includes new rules and processes for hiring, job classification and compensation, performance management, training, corrective/disciplinary action, reduction-in-force and more. For example, the number of job categories will be substantially reduced, from the current 2,400 to several hundred.
The state's human resources system will be modernized to:
- Improve the delivery of state services;
- Give agencies flexibility to meet changing needs; and
- Give employees more job mobility and career advancement opportunities.
The new system will apply in total for those employees who are not covered by collective bargaining agreements and in part for those who are covered by collective bargaining.
The Department of Personnel spent more than a year conducting extensive research on customer needs, and on the trends and best practices among other employers to provide a basis for designing the new system.
The Washington Personnel Resources Board will adopt new rules by March 15, 2004. Implementation of the new classification system will begin in January 2005.