Transcription of 2011 Federal Personnel Handbook
1 Federal Handbooks 2011 Federal Personnel Handbook FREE Federal Handbooks Since 2001 1 2011 Federal Personnel Handbook Published by Federal Handbooks FREE Federal Handbooks Since 2001 _____ Copyright 2011 . Federal Handbooks, 7200 NW 86th Street, Kansas City, MO 64153. Federal Handbooks website: All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the Publisher. Printed in the This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional service.
2 If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought. From a Declaration of Principles jointly adopted by a committee of the American Bar Association and a committee of publishers and associations. Go to to sign up for your FREE Federal Handbooks today! Federal Handbooks 2011 Federal Personnel Handbook FREE Federal Handbooks Since 2001 2 Contents 1. Federal Appointments .. 7 Service Requirement for Career Tenure .. 7 Required Probationary Period .. 8 Acquiring Competitive Status .. 8 Temporary and Term Appointments .. 8 Defining Temporary Appointment.
3 8 Time Limits .. 8 How Temporary Employees Are Selected .. 9 Term Appointments .. 9 How Term Employees Are Selected .. 9 Excepted Service: Schedules A, B, and C Appointments .. 9 Schedule C Positions and Appointments .. 9 Other Excepted Service Positions and Appointments .. 9 Excepted Service Agencies .. 10 Employment of Noncitizens .. 10 Dual Employment .. 11 Civilian Federal Employees Working in Outside (Nonfederal) Jobs .. 12 Uniformed Service Members Holding Civilian Government Jobs .. 12 Employment of Retirees (Dual Compensation Issues) .. 12 Federal Retirees under CSRS and FERS .. 12 Military Retirees .. 13 Other Retirees Private Sector, State, and Local Government.
4 13 Exceptions for CSRS and FERS Retirees .. 13 Retaining Reinstatement Eligibility .. 13 2. The Probationary Period .. 14 Purpose .. 14 Service Requirement for Career Tenure .. 14 Required Probationary Period .. 14 3. Pay and Leave .. 15 Federal Pay .. 15 Executive Schedule .. 15 Senior Executive Service .. 15 Senior-Level and Scientific or Professional (ST) Positions .. 16 SES, SL/ST Pay Cap Raised To VP Level Under Certain Conditions .. 16 General Schedule .. 16 Federal Wage System .. 16 Special Pay Authorities .. 17 Locality Pay .. 17 Pay Flexibilities .. 17 Advance Payments .. 17 Above Minimum Hiring Rates GS .. 17 Pre-Employment Interviews Payment of Travel and Transportation Expenses.
5 17 Recruitment Incentives .. 18 Relocation Incentives .. 20 Retention Incentives .. 22 Group Retention Incentives .. 24 Separation Payments .. 25 Severance Pay .. 25 Lump-Sum Payments for Unused Annual Leave .. 27 Federal Handbooks 2011 Federal Personnel Handbook FREE Federal Handbooks Since 2001 3 Leave .. 27 Annual Leave .. 27 Sick Leave .. 29 Family and Medical Leave .. 29 Leave Transfer and Leave Bank Programs .. 29 Other Leave .. 29 Unscheduled Leave .. 29 Washington, Area Dismissal and Closure Procedures .. 30 Lunch or Other Meal Periods .. 32 Compensatory Time Off .. 33 4. Performance Management.
6 34 Defining Performance Management .. 34 Planning .. 34 Monitoring .. 34 Developing .. 34 Rating .. 35 Rewarding .. 35 Performance Elements .. 35 Summary Levels .. 36 Within-Grade Increases (WGI) .. 37 Dealing with Poor Performers .. 37 Proposal Notice to Remove .. 37 Suspend, Demote, or Remove .. 37 Furloughs .. 39 Change to Lower Grade .. 40 Hours of Duty, Work Schedules, and Compensation .. 40 Alternative Work Schedules .. 41 5. Transfers and Reinstatements .. 45 Transfers .. 45 Eligibility to Transfer .. 45 Applying for Transfer .. 45 Probationary Period .. 45 Positions Restricted to Veterans .. 45 Reinstatement .. 46 Eligibility Requirements .. 46 Applying for Reinstatement.
7 46 Citizenship .. 47 Qualifications .. 47 Suitability .. 47 Age .. 47 Positions Restricted to Veterans .. 47 Probationary Period .. 47 6. Senior Executive Service .. 48 Structure of the SES .. 48 Criteria for Career Reserved Positions .. 48 SES Appointments .. 48 Selection Process .. 49 Qualifications .. 49 Fundamental Competencies .. 50 7. Rights of Military Personnel .. 51 Veterans Preference .. 51 Background of Veterans Preference .. 51 Federal Handbooks 2011 Federal Personnel Handbook FREE Federal Handbooks Since 2001 4 Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 .. 51 How Federal Jobs Are Filled.
8 52 Types of Appointment .. 52 Who Is Entitled To Veterans Preference in Employment .. 53 How Preference Applies In Competitive Examination .. 54 Filing Applications after Examinations Close .. 55 Special Appointing Authorities f or Veterans .. 55 Positions Restricted To Preference Eligibles .. 56 Affirmative Action for Certain Veterans Under Title 38 .. 56 Veterans Complaints .. 56 Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act .. 57 Covered Employees .. 57 Covered Service .. 57 Time Limits for Restoration .. 58 Positions to Which Restored .. 58 OPM Placement .. 59 How Service Is Credited .. 59 Employee Protections .. 59 Appeal Rights .. 59 Paid Military Leave.
9 59 Life Insurance .. 59 Health Insurance .. 59 Retirement Credit .. 60 Thrift Savings .. 60 Additional Help .. 60 Employment of Military Retirees .. 60 8. Reductions In Force .. 61 RIF Steps .. 61 Running Registers .. 63 Release .. 63 Rights to Other Positions: Bumping and Retreating .. 64 Vacant Positions .. 64 RIF Notices .. 65 RIF Appeals and Grievances .. 65 9. Workers Compensation and Reemployment Rights .. 66 Services Provided .. 66 Funding .. 66 When Injured At Work .. 67 Medical Benefits .. 67 Compensation for Temporary Total Disability .. 67 Compensation for Permanent Effects of Injury .. 68 Compensation for Death .. 68 Cost-of-Living Increases.
10 68 Settlements with Third Parties .. 68 Appeal Rights .. 68 If You Are Injured On the Job .. 69 Restoration Rights of Injured or Ill Federal Employees .. 70 Eligibility f or Restoration .. 70 Disability Retirement .. 71 Agency Obligations .. 71 Employee Obligations .. 71 Federal Handbooks 2011 Federal Personnel Handbook FREE Federal Handbooks Since 2001 5 Four Categories of Restoration Rights .. 71 Effect of Performance and Conduct on Restoration Rights .. 72 Status upon Recovery .. 72 RIF Protection .. 72 Placement in Other Agencies .. 73 Appeal Rights .. 73 Additional Assistance .. 73 10.
