What is one significant change in employee management policy that occurred in 1996?

The notable change in employee management policy in 1996 was the removal of civil service protections for new hires. This shift allowed for a significant alteration in how state employees were managed and hired, leading to a more flexible system that could align with political agendas and administrative changes. By eliminating these protections for new hires, the policy aimed to enhance the ability of state agencies to adapt their workforce according to the needs of the administration in power, rather than being bound by the longstanding civil service rules that typically ensured job security and a standardized hiring process based on seniority and qualifications. This change had substantial implications for the job security of new hires and the overall structure of state employment in Georgia.