Human Capital Considerations Are Relevant to Continuity Planning and Implementation Efforts

The current literature indicates, and experts that we consulted confirmed,  that the immediate response to a crisis should give priority to securing the  safety of all employees and addressing the needs of employees who  perform or directly support essential operations. Consequently, the experts said that these priorities have received most of  the human capital attention in continuity efforts for both the private and  public sectors, including federal agencies. Such employees would be associated with  efforts to fully resume all other operations and represent the majority of an  organization. The experts identified two principles that should guide actions to more  fully address human capital considerations applicable to all continuity  planning and implementation efforts. Federal employees  may have additional opportunities to contribute to not only their own  agencies’ operations but also other agencies’ operations in serving the  American people. FEMA and OPM Have Exhibited Leadership in Addressing Human Capital Considerations Relevant to COOP

As we stated earlier, the human capital considerations related to life safety  and the needs of personnel performing essential operations have largely  been addressed in continuity efforts. While not specifically tasked with coordinating COOP efforts, FEBs are  generally responsible for improving coordination among federal activities  and programs in major metropolitan areas outside of Washington, D.C. However, the context in which FEBs currently operate, including the lack  of a clearly defined role in emergency preparedness efforts, including  COOP, and varying capacities among FEBs, could lead to inconsistent  levels of preparedness across the nation. Objectives, Scope, and Methodology

The objectives of this report were to  identify the human capital considerations that are relevant to federal  agencies’ continuity planning and implementation efforts;   describe the continuity of operations (COOP) guidance provided by the  Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and emergency  preparedness guidance and activities of the Office of Personnel  Management (OPM) to address human capital considerations relevant  to COOP; and  describe the role Federal Executive Boards (FEB) play, relevant to  COOP, in coordinating efforts outside of the Washington, D.C., area.
Why GAO Did This Study

Federal agencies must have the capacity to serve the public during disruptions to normal operations. This depends, in part, on continuity efforts that help agencies marshal, manage, and maintain their most important asset--their people, or human capital. GAO identified the human capital considerations relevant to federal continuity efforts; described efforts by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to address these considerations relevant to continuity of operations (COOP); and described the role Federal Executive Boards (FEB) play in coordinating such efforts outside Washington, D.C.

What GAO Found

According to recognized experts from the private and public sectors, continuity efforts should give priority to the immediate aftermath of a crisis--securing the safety of all employees and addressing the needs of employees who perform essential operations. However, experts noted that additional human capital considerations, especially those associated with the majority of an organization's employees who would be needed to resume all other operations, are also crucial and have not been well developed by many public and private sector organizations. To more fully address human capital considerations, experts identified two human capital principles that should guide all continuity efforts--demonstrating sensitivity to individual employee needs and maximizing the contributions of all employees--and six key organizational actions designed to enhance continuity efforts. FEMA and OPM have exhibited leadership in addressing human capital considerations relevant to COOP, but opportunities to improve exist. For example, while both agencies have issued guidance that addresses securing the safety of all employees and responding to the needs of personnel performing essential operations, neither agency's guidance addresses human capital considerations related to resuming broader agency operations. Although not specifically tasked with coordinating emergency preparedness efforts, including COOP, FEBs are uniquely positioned to do so, given their general responsibility for improving coordination among federal activities in areas outside of Washington, D.C. While some FEBs already play an active role in coordinating such efforts, the current context in which FEBs operate, including the lack of a clearly defined role and varying capacities among FEBs, could lead to inconsistent levels of preparedness across the nation.