Limits of excellence

Plans to fix the number of civil servants who may be assigned certain grades in each band of the service's new performance assessment system have been dropped following stiff opposition. However, departments will still not be allowed to inflate staff assessments. The Public Service Commission, a civil service watchdog, had earlier criticised some departments for grading about 70 per cent of staff as 'outstanding' during a promotion exercise. The controversy prompted the Government to consider stipulating limits on grades.