OPM Chief Discusses New Diversity Initiative
August 22, 2011
Plans for diversity and inclusion in the federal workforce are taking shape, John Berry, director of the Office of Personnel Management announced Monday at the Blacks in Government National Training Conference.
Berry's remarks followed President Obama's directive, issued Thursday, ordering federal agencies to develop strategic plans to cultivate a more diverse workforce.
In conjunction with the announcement Thursday, OPM launched a diversity and inclusion website.
Berry on Monday cited OPM's previous accomplishments bringing in veterans and people with disabilities, speeding the hiring process and simplifying the recruitment process as evidence that the new diversity program will work. Still, he said, getting minorities into Senior Executive Service positions is an area that needs progress.
"We've come a long way in the last few decades, but we still have mountains to climb," he said. "Although minorities comprise 34 percent of our diverse federal workforce, they're just 18 percent of our SES. That's unacceptable. We can do better."