Real public-private cooperation

Top-rated IT employees of the federal government will be able to spend time at private firms for training and development, new rules announced by the Office of Personnel Management say. According to GovExec.com, the rules effect GS-11 or higher employees. Senior Executive Service employees are eligible but temporary employees or not. The "loan" is for a minimum of three months but can last up to a year.

A written agreement among the agency, the private company and the employee involved must include required duties, length of loan and extension terms. A development plan for the employee must be written into the agreement, including the technical skills that the employee is expected to learn.

Those loaned to private organizations keep all rights and benefits that come with their government employment status, the rules state. Agencies are not permitted to loan workers with the intention of going around personnel ceiling limits, and are not required to issue a vacancy announcement when an employee is loaned.