Tennessee Gov. Bill HaslamNASHVILLE - Gov. Bill Haslam signed his overhaul of civil service into law today, saying that, of all the things he's done so far in office, "I honestly think this might be the most important."
"It helps us to have employees that we need and want to give great customer service in Tennessee state government, and I also think it's a great example of how good government should work," Haslam said.
Haslam said that for decades, employment decisions in Tennessee government have been "based solely" on seniority. The new law changes that when it comes to promotions and layoffs, making job performance the top priority.
The law is called the Tennessee Excellence, Accountability and Management, or TEAM, Act.
Haslam said the state now must get to work developing a new employee evaluation system to establish performance standards and expected outcomes for the estimated 40,000 people who work for the state.
For complete details, see tomorrow's Times Free Press.