Audit of the Human Resources Division

This is a performance audit of the Massachusetts Human Resources Division, covering July 1, 2016 through December 31, 2017.

“In accordance with Section 12 of Chapter 11 of the Massachusetts General Laws, the Office of the State Auditor has conducted a performance audit of the Human Resources Division (HRD) for the period July 1, 2016 through December 31, 2017.”

Auditors checked whether HRD was making executive branch agencies follow Executive Order 526, including rules about submitting affirmative action and diversity plans and whether HRD took action when agencies did not comply.

“In this performance audit, we examined HRD’s compliance with Executive Order (EO) 526, including determining whether HRD ensured that executive branch agencies complied with reporting requirements for affirmative action plans and diversity plans and whether HRD imposed any remedial courses of action on noncompliant agencies.”

These plans are meant to help state agencies remove discriminatory barriers, improve equal opportunity, and build a more diverse workforce.

“All state agencies shall develop and implement affirmative action and diversity plans to identify and eliminate discriminatory barriers in the workplace; remedy the effects of past discriminatory practices; identify, recruit, hire, develop, promote, and retain employees who are members of under-represented groups; and ensure diversity and equal opportunity in all facets, terms, and conditions of state employment.”

For residents, the issue is whether state government is actually tracking and enforcing its own equal opportunity and diversity commitments in hiring and workplace practices.

“Reports help agencies create inclusive and diverse workforces.”

The auditor concluded that HRD did not make sure agencies filed required plans and progress reports, and did not take remedial action against agencies that failed to comply.

“Despite the significant number of executive branch agencies that HRD identified through monitoring that did not file the required plans, HRD had not taken any remedial actions to enforce agency compliance.”

The report recommends that HRD create and enforce clear policies, monitoring controls, reminders, and consequences for agencies that do not submit required reports.

“HRD should develop policies and procedures to monitor the tracking of all affirmative action and diversity plan progress reports to ensure that all agencies are working toward, and reporting on, meeting their goals in the two-year plan cycle.”

An affirmative action plan is a state agency’s plan for addressing past discrimination by improving opportunities for under-represented groups. A diversity plan is about valuing differences among employees and creating an inclusive workplace.

“A policy or program that seeks to redress past discrimination by increasing opportunities for under-represented groups.”