The Federal Office of Personnel (FOPER) is the specialist unit in charge of the Confederation's personnel policy. It develops principles and tools for human resources management, further development and coordination within the Federal Administration, which has around 35 600 employees. FOPER carries out the preparatory work for personnel-related matters that come before the Federal Council, and advises the departments and federal agencies on implementing the personnel policy. It conducts evaluations and surveys, and liaises with the social partners.