Although personnel management in the public sector has become increasingly difficult because of recent social changes, more worker and middle management involvement in decision-making processes can improve all levels of personnel management. The social changes affecting personnel management have assumed three forms: (1) the entrance into the work force of workers who are more aware of and assertive about their civil rights, (2) the rise of public sector unionism, and (3) the reduced fiscal resources available to governments with which to provide public services. To respond to the challenges facing personnel management today, personnel specialists should be elevated to decision-making roles, more opportunities should be provided for employees in public sector unions to participate in decisions related to their work, and greater emphasis must be placed on training management personnel in human and interpersonal relations. (JW)