542 ROSA: REORGANIZED CIVIL SERVICE 



if wisely constituted could accomplish much in removing doubts 

 and creating confidence. 



7. EFFICIENCY RECORDS 



An efficiency record should be kept, at least for all employees 

 below the senior grades, and promotions made in the light of 

 this record. When employees of the senior grades for whom no 

 regular efficiency record is kept are recommended for promotion, 

 a very full statement should be made to the Civil Service Com- 

 mission as to the quality of the work done and degree of re- 

 sponsibility carried and any other reasons for making the pro- 

 motion. A statement of this kind supported by documents, when 

 practicable, would be the full equivalent of an efficiency record. 

 Such a system of efficiency ratings, if intelligently and system- 

 atically carried out, would be a stimulus to employees and an 

 important element in a real merit system. The form in which 

 such efficiency ratings are expressed may be prescribed by the 

 Commission in order that they be uniform and comparable. 

 But the method of arriving at the ratings and details of the 

 record kept may be left to the various bureaus and departments. 

 These will naturally vary according to the kind of service and 

 grades of personnel in the different services, but in every case 

 they should take account of all elements that determine the effi- 

 ciency of employees. 



In many cases formal examinations are held to qualify men 

 and women for higher positions, especially in connection with 

 systematic courses of instruction and training. Such examina- 

 tions, which are usually optional and competitive, are useful 

 in making efficiency ratings preparatory to promotion. Com- 

 pulsory examinations of a formal character will not generally be 

 necessary or desirable in making promotions if an effective sys- 

 tem of efficiency ratings is maintained. In some cases, how- 

 ever, they will be necessary, and hence provision should be made 

 for such examinations whenever desired by the responsible ad- 

 ministrator or the Civil Service Commission. Possibly it would 

 work out that they would be useful and practicable in many 

 cases. 



