The Foreign Service Journal, December 2013

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | DECEMBER 2013 41 AFSA NEWS Views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the AFSA USAID VP. Contact: swayne@usaid.gov or (202) 712-1631 USAID VP VOICE | BY SHARON WAYNE USAID Foreign Service officers are deeply proud of the work they do. Thankfully, we have that pride and dedication to moti- vate us, as recognition via promotions and respect via clear agency communication is not always forthcoming. The 2013 promotion lists have been released, and I offer my heartfelt congratulations to all that found their name on that anxiously awaited list. It didn’t take long for me to start receiving calls from officers who did not make the cut. Most asked how the agency decides the number of yearly promotions it will grant, how long it usually takes to be promoted and how far they were from making the cutoff. Some promotion information is easy to access in the Automated Directives System, such as eligibility requirements and information on evaluations and performance boards, but other relevant information seems to be kept under lock and key. It is understandable that aspects of the process must be closely held; for instance, the promotion boards are sequestered with no knowledge of the “cutoff number” so they remain untainted by any outside influence when ranking the individual performance evaluations. The concerns mainly surface after the promotions are announced. The major complaint has been that information describing the procedure to determine the number of promo- tions and other related statistics are never divulged. Appar- ently, the agency’s current standard operating procedure dictates that the process and details are not shared. Today’s work force expects more transparency and engage- ment from its employer. In contrast to USAID’s limited com- munication, the State Department publishes yearly promotion data broken down into cones (what we call “backstops”) by grade. The data show the number of officers competing, the number promoted, the percent promoted, the average time in class of both those competing and those promoted, and the average length of service of both those competing and those promoted. State also publishes insight into how the number of promotions is determined, including promotion statistics by gender, ethnicity and race. USAID does not publish any of the above data, thereby con- tributing to lower morale and leading some to believe that the entire exercise is arbitrary. Poor communication is frustrating for staff and a source of conflict and turnover. USAID has an extremely bright and committed work force, but when basic guidance on how to manage one’s career and respect from one’s employer are lacking, even the most dedicated employ- ees may begin to consider leaving. Overall morale and relations with the Office of Human USAID Needs a Transparent Promotions Process Resources would both improve if USAID increased transpar- ency in how it makes decisions that affect the lives of its staff. Agency officers want to make the Foreign Service a career, but they also want an idea of what that career might look like. Without clear communications regarding realistic career paths, the agency unwittingly facilitates the rumors that fuel unrealistic expectations—ranging from unrealistically high to cynically low. The good news is that the dialogue has begun, as shown by the release of the 2013 promotion statistics. Let us hope this marks the beginning of a more open flow of information from HR to staff. (Note: The promotion cutoff number was often increased to account for those ineligible for promotion.) Please continue to submit your questions and comments to me at swayne@usaid.gov. AFSA is the voice of the Foreign Service, but to serve you effectively, I need to know what is on your mind. I look forward to a continued, open dialogue. n Program Operations and Management Board (Backstops 10, 11, 12, 21, 25, 40, 50, 60, 76) Grade Promoted FS-2 to FS-1 23 FS-3 to FS-2 19 FS-4 to FS-3 31 Program Direction and Development Board (Backstops 1, 2, 85, 94) Grade Promoted FS-2 to FS-1 9 FS-3 to FS-2 9 FS-4 to FS-3 9 Program Support Board (Backstops 3-7, 93) Grade Promoted FS-2 to FS-1 6 FS-3 to FS-2 4 FS-4 to FS-3 11 Senior Threshold Board Grade Promoted FS-1 to FE-OC 29 Consolidated Senior Foreign Service Board Grade Promoted FE-OC to FE-MC 10 FE-MC to FE-CM 5