Responses from 446 of 1,283 public agency personnel directors showed that 40% had ethical dilemmas when 2-career couples were employed in the same agency. Most prohibited only supervisory relationships between spouses and offered employment assistance. Reform of the merit system may be needed to stay competitive in the face of this demographic…

A survey of 300 public agency personnel directors received 208 responses indicating that 65 percent have substance abuse policies, 66 percent of those test applicants. Most agencies that test employees verify positive results with a second test before disciplinary action; 85 percent have employee assistance programs. Personnel directors' attitudes…

Background characteristics (grade point average, degree level, college quality, major, work experience, and recruitment source) were correlated with performance appraisal scores of 564 entry-level public employees. Although most agency managers surveyed believed performance was linked to those characteristics, grade point average was the only…