GeorgiaGain or GeorgiaLoss? The Great Experiment in State Civil Service Reform

Abstract

After guiding Georgia through several successful yet controversial reforms as governor, Senator Zell Miller enacted his greatest change by reorganizing the state's personnel system. The overhaul, entitled “GeorgiaGain,” immediately created the most dramatic reforms in state public service since the Pendleton Act of 1883. Georgia would become the only state to dismantle its civil service and create a totally unclassified labor force hired through a decentralized personnel structure. Through the new program, many traditional employee protections were eliminated, with salaries determined by revised evaluations and a pay-for-performance system. State officials assert that efficiency has improved. Findings indicate that the largest raises have been given only to employees rated as outstanding, while the amount of “habitual” outstanding annual evaluations has decreased. Pay increases across the board also decreased, and more inadequate workers have departed since reform. However, overall, all types of employees have resigned in greater numbers each year, with the majority being the average employee, even though average workers received the greatest number of promotions. Survey findings illustrate that many state workers have also challenged GeorgiaGain's claims of enhanced evaluations, compensation and productivity.