2011 Federal Personnel Handbook - Free Federal …

1 Federal Handbooks 2011 Federal Personnel Handbook 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. 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!

2 FREE Federal Handbooks Since 2001 1. Federal Handbooks 2011 Federal Personnel Handbook 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 .. 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.

3 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 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. FREE Federal Handbooks Since 2001 2. Federal Handbooks 2011 Federal Personnel Handbook Leave.

4 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 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.

5 46. Applying for Reinstatement .. 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. FREE Federal Handbooks Since 2001 3. Federal Handbooks 2011 Federal Personnel Handbook Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 .. 51. How Federal Jobs Are Filled .. 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 for Veterans . 55. Positions Restricted To Preference Eligibles . 56. Affirmative Action for Certain Veterans Under Title 38.

6 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 .. 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.

7 68. Cost-of-Living Increases .. 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 for Restoration .. 70. Disability Retirement .. 71. Agency Obligations .. 71. Employee Obligations .. 71. FREE Federal Handbooks Since 2001 4. Federal Handbooks 2011 Federal Personnel Handbook 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. Important Federal Agencies .. 74. Office of Personnel Management .. 74. Merit Systems Protection Board .. 74. Appellate Jurisdiction .. 75. Judicial Review .. 76. Members of the MSPB .. 76. Prohibited Personnel Practices .. 76. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission . 77. Federal Laws Prohibiting Job Discrimination . 77. Discriminatory Practices Prohibited By These Laws.

8 78. Filing and Processing Federal EEO Complaints . 80. Office of Government Ethics .. 82. Gifts from Outside Sources .. 82. Gifts Between Employees .. 83. Conflicting Financial Interests .. 83. Impartiality in Performing Official Duties . 84. Seeking Other Employment .. 84. Misuse of Position .. 85. Outside Activities .. 85. Post-Employment .. 85. Representation to Government Agencies and Courts .. 86. Supplementation of Salary .. 86. Financial Disclosure .. 87. Recusals . 87. Waivers . 87. Certificates of Divestiture .. 88. Trusts .. 88. Informal Advisory Letters and Memoranda and Formal Opinions .. 88. Office of Special Counsel .. 88. Prohibited Personnel Practices and Whistleblower Protection .. 88. Organization . 89. Twelve Prohibited Personnel Practices .. 89. Who Is Protected From Prohibited Personnel Practices .. 89. Who Is Not Protected From Prohibited Personnel Practices .. 90. Complaint Processing .. 90. Delaying a Personnel Action Pending Investigation.

9 91. Remedying a Prohibited Personnel Practice . 91. Filing a Complaint with OSC .. 92. OSC's Policy About Allegations of Discrimination .. 92. Other Violations Over Which OSC Has Jurisdiction .. 93. Cooperating With OSC Investigations .. 93. Whistleblower Disclosures .. 93. Political Activity (Hatch Act) .. 95. Permitted/Prohibited Activities .. 96. Agencies/Employees Prohibited From Engaging in Partisan Political Activity 96. FREE Federal Handbooks Since 2001 5. Federal Handbooks 2011 Federal Personnel Handbook Permitted/Prohibited Activities .. 97. Penalties for Violating The Hatch Act .. 97. Advisory Opinions .. 97. How to File a Complaint Alleging A Violation of The Hatch Act .. 98. Enforcement . 98. USERRA . 98. Federal Labor Relations Authority .. 99. Office of the General Counsel .. 99. Federal Service Impasses Panel .. 100. Foreign Service Labor Relations Board .. 100. Foreign Service Impasse Disputes Panel .. 100. Helpful Directory of Non OPM References/Resources.

10 101. Helpful Directory of OPM References/Resources .. 102. FREE Federal Handbooks Since 2001 6. Federal Handbooks 2011 Federal Personnel Handbook 1. Federal Appointments *NOTE* The Social Security Administration has announced that no cost-of-living adjustments will be made to Social Security benefits in 2011 because the consumer price index has not risen since 2008 when the last Social Security increase occurred. This is subject to change. ( ). As an employer, the Federal government is unique. In the private sector, there are generally two types of appointments the at will appointment and the contract appointment. The vast majority of private sector employees hired by a company or firm are hired as at will employees. While they may not realize it, this typically means that the private-sector employee can be fired for any reason, or no reason, but not for an illegal reason. As a practical matter, then, most at will workers can be fired at any time, for almost any reason.