ABSTRACT
This chapter presents exploratory findings on the current state of human resource management (HRM) in state government in the United States (US), with a focus on the impact of reform on what can be considered the primary unit of analysis in HRM—the employee. In exploring the research on personnel reform in the US, one must start with the question of what is wrong with civil service that requires fundamental reform. The modern civil service system, designed to combat challenges surrounding the politicization of public service employment and the associated inefficiencies, has been argued to suffer from numerous dysfunctions requiring the continued attention of reformers. The fact that so many governors appear to be waging war with their career civil servants is troubling enough, but the extent to which many appear to be winning the battle is particularly worrisome. The trends that have just been discussed are fueled in part by the election of activist governors in at least 20 states.
