This book should be of interest to public administration courses.

In this revised and expanded reader, Thompson brings 30 classic articles and book chapter reprints together under one cover--giving students a grounding in the history, development, and current status of public personnel policy in the United States. In addition to discussion of hot topics, Thompson includes such important primary source materials as the Pendleton Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1972, the Volcker Commission's Leadership for Governance findings, and key Supreme Court decisions. Enhanced by the editor's extensively revised section introductions, these readings give students a sense of the rich historical legacy of the field while casting light on contemporary issues and policy dilemmas.

With over 20 million people on its payroll, the government continues to be the largest employer in the country. Managing people who do the nation’s work is of critical importance to politicians and government leaders as well as citizens. The great recession of 2008 put enormous strains on governments, highlighting the key role personnel play in managing under times of austerity as well as prosperity. A thorough examination of political and historical aspects, Personnel Management in Government: Politics and Process, Seventh Edition provides students with a comprehensive understanding of human resource management within its historical and political context in the public sector. It discusses the development of public sector human resource management, the present status of best practices, and important insights from current scholarship on all three levels of government: federal, state, and local. See What’s New in the Seventh Edition: Personnel reforms under the Obama administration Pension developments at state and local levels of government Labor relations reforms at state and local levels, e.g. recent experiences in Michigan, Ohio, and other states making big changes to labor laws and policies Changes to diversity and affirmative action initiatives across the nation Developments in performance outcome initiatives at all levels of government During the 36 years since the publication of the first edition, the authors have addressed issues that were not yet considered mainstream, yet have become so over time. The seventh edition is no different. It examines progress that public personnel professionals are making to address changes in the political, legal, and managerial environment of the current decade. Exploring developments and innovations in the management of people who carry out the government's work, the book introduces students to public sector personnel management.

This text is the result of the co-operation between academics and civil servants active in this policy field. It aims to contribute to a more effective equality oriented personnel policy which takes into account policy insights and developments regarding gender, equality and personnel policy.

Dresang, Dennis L., Public Personnel Management and Public Policy, 4th Edition*\ The latest edition of this highly praised book retains the characteristics that have made it a success: an accessible writing style, and an abundance of practical exercises and real life case studies. With an increased inclusion of research findings, this updated text continues to elucidate policy issues and professional practice in personnel administration at every level of government-state, local, and federal. /U For those interested in public personnel management and human resource administration.