Overseas Allowances and Benefits: System Problems Remain.
Abstract
The overseas allowances and benefits system affects some 50,000 U.S. Federal civilian employees stationed in foreign areas and costs at least $500 million annually. Prior GAO reviews identified problems with the system that resulted in civilian employees not receiving equitable treatment. Although some work over the last 7 years has been directed at improving the system, most of the earlier GAO recommendations to make the system more equitable and efficient have not been adequately addressed. The Inter-Agency Committee on Overseas Allowances and Benefits was unsuccessful in resolving system problems. The system continues to lack a common body of rules and no attempt has been made to identify the type of allowance or benefit required to satisfy a specific overseas location need at the lowest cost. Additionally, a comprehensive and readily available data base does not exist to facilitate decisionmaking and a need remains to explain to employees why some allowance and benefit differences are justified. Solution of these problems would increase overseas allowances and benefits uniformity, while making the system more equitable and efficient. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 22, 1981
- Accession Number
- ADA111580
Entities
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office