Preserving the Integrity of the Federal Merit Systems: Understanding and Addressing Perceptions of Favoritism.

摘要

The Merit System Principles guide Federal supervisors to base their workforce decisions (e.g., hiring, promoting, giving awards, and distributing assignments) on objective criteria, such as assessments of ability or performance, rather than personal feelings and/or relationships, lest they be viewed as practicing personal favoritism. In brief, personal favoritism occurs when a supervisor or selecting official grants an advantage to one employee or applicant but not another similarly situated employee or applicant based on friendship or other affinity rather than a legitimate merit-based reason. Favoritism is distinct from discrimination on legally protected bases and is frequently more difficult to clearly identify when it is occurring given the absence of visible cues on which the preference is made. However, like discrimination, favoritism is contrary to the ideals of the Federal merit systems.