Former Foe Shares Stage for Civil Service Overhaul Signing

Governor Bill Haslam held an outdoor signing ceremony on the plaza in front of the Tennessee Tower.

Legislation that completely reworks how the state hires, fires and promotes its employees was signed into law Tuesday. Republican lawmakers believe it could transform how state government works.

Many state employees remain skeptical of whether the civil service overhaul will function as advertised or just make way for departments to hire friends of the administration. The law ends a sole reliance on seniority to determine who gets laid off or promoted.

Rep. Bill Dunn of Knoxville says that now many of the state’s 46,000 employees can experience what he calls “earned success.”

“They’re going to feel the same joy that we have one day, when they know that that if they work hard, they do well, yes there will be more money for them, but there will also be that joy and contentment that only being successful in your job can bring.”

The law allows for merit pay to reward above-average performance. Performance is also the primary factor in determining who should be let go in the event of a layoff.

Governor Bill Haslam says he understands why civil service rules were once needed to prevent political patronage, but in his words – “the cure was worse than what it was trying to fix.”

Standing behind the governor at the signing ceremony were smiling Republican lawmakers, and perhaps more importantly, the head of the Tennessee State Employees Association.

At one point, the TSEA walked away from discussions about the civil service overhaul. Executive director Robert O’Connell said the administration wasn’t listening.

Eventually, he says the governor agreed to small changes. The most important gives state workers a say in what criteria will be used to determine job performance. O’Connell says he’s hearing some good reviews.

“We are getting a lot of smiles. Our field folks who are out there talking to people in various chapters are getting positive reactions for it.”

State employees could become eligible for merit pay increases starting next year. The end to layoffs based on seniority will also come in 2013.

Here is a four-page summary of the governor’s civil service overhaul.

Just a few months ago, TSEA announced it’s “strongest opposition” to the civil service overhaul.