Va Bonuses

[boomer2]

Like to see congress do something about this.

http://www.military.com/news/article/2011/vet-organizations-hit-va-executive-bonuses.html?ESRC=eb.nl

[carlie]

I believe this is one of the many AUDITS that is done, on a regular basis.

Just like VBA screws up on claims issues, management screws up by

giving bonuses or doesn't go about giving bonuses in the correct manner

like documenting why the bonus were paid and providing bonuses inappropriately.

IMO - these AUDITS are wonderful - this is one of the places that the VA can actually be held ACCOUNTABLE.

Hell - IMO, some VA employees should be getting some bonus incentives.

One specific VAMC doc literally saved my life - I sure wouldn't mind seeing him get a $7,500.00 bonus.

He truly cares about all of his veterans and I'd like the VAMC to do a little something to keep him

working there and providing service to us.

the real meat of the story is :

http://www.va.gov/oig/pubs/VAOIG-10-02887-30.pdf

Department of

Veterans Affairs

Audit of

Retention Incentives

for Veterans Health

Administration and VA

Central Office Employees

OFFICE OF AUDITS AND EVALUATIONS

November 14, 2011

10-02887-30

[boomer2]

Carlie

You are absolutely correct about the VAMC's. IMO they do a much better job than they are given credit for. IMO the bonuses that are going to the VARO's should be diverted to the VAMC's until the VARO's get the claims to a much more manageable amount. To me the VBA should be completely re-organized.

[Capt.]

Hello Carlie and others,,,,, I would much rather see the doctors , VAMC get any bonuses than the VBA . I also have some doctors that have helped me at VAMC and wish the bonuses could go there rather than to VBA. Unfortuanately I think the reports show more going to VBA than VAMC and those at VAMC appear to be the upper management group. Please correct me if I m wrong from what I have read. I fear we are going to see this for years to come despite any careful examination by Congress or others. NEVER GIVE UP. God Bless, C.C.

[justrluk]

Rant follows, so skip this if you're not interested...

-- rant --

As a FED in another agency, I can't believe they don't have better control of the system and that standards aren't followed across the board. Here, the quickest way to go to jail is to mess up time/payroll issues (and abuse Gov't travel card). That is, if you're not in upper management. If you are and you commit one of these sorts of sins, you end up in the "special assistant" program - not fired, but not in charge of anything either.

Sounds like they were feathering their own nests and their bosses were simply signing off their appraisals without really looking at the data most relevant: not meeting goals/standards set by the organization. When the hammer drops on reduction of federal employees, though, who do you think will be considered "essential" and "non-essential"? The worker-bees (we) get sent home and the SESs/senior leaders get to keep working/getting paid due to special rules.

Also, I'm amazed at the dollar amount of their bonus since that money comes from the civilian pay account. These accounts aren't built to pay bonuses per se, so the money comes from the float created by vacancies or lower graded employees in higher grade positions. Translation: because they are (usually) the hiring officials, and decide when to request/approve the fill/non-fill of positions. They ultimately create the pot they're bonus comes from by NOT filling positions required to serve veterans. Yes, I agree: they're no better than those who took bonuses after crashing their companies while accepting bail-outs.

No responsibility for .

-- end of rant –

[carlie]

The bonuses discussed - have no impact on the benefits received

or not received by claimants.

The funds for these possible bonuses do not come from the pool of funds

that disability payments originate from.

Most of these "bonuses" that were incorrectly (by whatever reason) provided,

were around 8K each - or less.

The crux of the report is in relationship to :

" VHA and VACO approving officials did not

adequately justify and document retention

incentive awards in accordance with VA

policy.

VA lacked clear guidance, oversight,

and training to effectively support the program.

VA officials did not effectively use the

Personnel and Accounting Integrated Data

system to generate timely review notices. VA

officials also did not always stop retention

incentives at the end of set payment periods."

Heck - there are tons of OIG Reports/ Audits and Publications for research.

I think these reports and Audits are very good for them to do.

It is a way to hold them accountable on at least some issues.

If you ever get bored and have little to do - check them out :

http://www.va.gov/oig/publications/default.asp

[myround0]

I know this is not the way the VA thinks. But the bonuses should be given to the agencies that exceed satisfactory performance