Federal Daily - October 27, 2008

EEOC: Feds Should Enhance Hispanic Hiring, Recruitment

Federal agencies need to do a better job recruiting and hiring Hispanic workers, who are under-represented in the federal workforce, said a report released Oct. 23 by the Federal Hispanic Work Group (FHWG) at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). FHWG examined ways to increase the low participation rates for Hispanics in the federal workforce, finding that Hispanics have made only marginal gains in the last decade, from 6.4 percent of the workforce in 1997 to 7.79 percent in 2007. However, the Hispanic population has grown by 50 percent since 1990, the report said. Although some agencies have excellent Hispanic participation numbers, a closer examination reveals that Hispanics are not equally participating throughout the organizations. Instead, they are clustered within specific job categories, or occupational niches, that interact largely with the Hispanic public, the report said. FHWG recommended that EEOC—in partnership with other federal agencies—develop a Hispanic media outreach strategy and branding tool to attract more Hispanic candidates. Also, agencies and EEOC should coordinate with the Office of Personnel Management to increase the visibility of federal service at Hispanic serving institutions, the report said. Agencies should also consider creating a system of pay incentives where language requirements exist for mission-critical positions, the report said. These incentives would better enable agencies to provide services to the non-English speaking public, the report said. To see more, go to: www.eeoc.gov/federal/report/hwg.html.

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Army, NIMH to Partner in Suicide Prevention Effort

The Army on Oct. 23 announced it had signed an agreement with the National Institute of Mental Health to conduct research to help the Army prevent suicides. The five-year study will examine factors impacting the mental and behavioral health of soldiers across the continuum of service—from new recruits, to soldiers in the deployment cycle, to soldiers separating and returning to civilian life. The initiative is part of the Army’s ongoing efforts to prevent suicide by working within the Army and with partners in the civilian sector, the Army said in a statement. Also, the Army is preparing to launch a new and improved suicide prevention campaign within the service that emphasizes recognizing the signs of suicidal behavior. “The Army is committed to providing the best resources for suicide awareness, intervention, prevention and follow-up care—all of which are critical in helping soldiers and family members prevent unnecessary loss of life,” said Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey, Jr. To see more, go to: www.army.mil/-newsreleases/2008/10/23/13576-us-army-national-institute-of-mental-health-partner-to-reduce-suicides-in-the-army.

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Easing Mailbox Restrictions Could Imperil Mail Safety, Study Says

Removing the U.S. Postal Service’s (USPS) mailbox monopoly could hamper efforts by USPS to safeguard the nation’s mail, according to a RAND Corp. study released on Oct. 23. RAND looked at the mailbox monopoly and whether private courier services should be allowed to deliver items into mailboxes. Although the impact of such a change is likely to be moderate, it could diminish public safety and security by diluting the effectiveness of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, according to the report. RAND researchers were asked by USPS to assess the security implications of relaxing the mailbox monopoly, including whether such an action would present a risk to carriers, couriers and customers. The report concluded that widening access to mailboxes could increase theft as more people have access to mailboxes, and create more opportunities for criminal activity. “Critics have argued against the monopolies, primarily on economic, antimonopoly grounds related to leveling the playing field for other competitors,” the report said. “However, sometimes lost in the economic debate surrounding the monopolies is the fact that relaxing the monopolies may have ramifications in other areas—in particular, public safety and security.” However, the report also noted that negative effects could be reduced depending on how much access was provided and whether only the major couriers or a range of different types of couriers were allowed to enter the postal market. To see more, go to: www.rand.org/news/press/2008/10/23/index.html.

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