Special salary rate gives VHA ‘more robust,’ longer-term tools to hire and keep HR staff

Summary: The Department of Veterans Affairs gave its IT workforce a significant pay raise last summer, in the hopes of bringing more private-sector tech professionals into government. More money led to more hires at the VA’s Office of Information and Technology. Now the department is counting on the same strategy to recruit and retain human resources employees that’ll oversee its health care workforce. The Veterans Health Administration recently approved a Special Salary Rate for HR specialists and HR assistants, resulting in about a 15% pay increase. Eligible employees saw the pay bump go into effect last month. David Perry, VHA’s chief officer for workforce management and consulting, said the SSR gives the agency long-term tools to compete for in-demand experts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices