MRPBS Publications - Human Resources Desk Guide

Introduction to the Federal Employees Pay Comparability (Pay Flexibilities) Act of 1990

• Background
• Related Regulations
• Glossary
• Overview

Section A - Roles and Responsibilities

• Servicing Personnel Office (SPO)
• Employment Policy (EP)
• Managers/Supervisors
• Records/Reports Chart

Section B - Payment of Travel and Transportation Expenses for New Appointees and for Pre-Employment Interviews

• For Whom May I Pay Expenses?
• Service Agreement Violations
• Justification Criteria
• Process for Paying Travel and Transportation Expenses
• Approval Authority
• Records

Section C - Pay Advances to New Appointee

• Amount That May Be Advanced
• Definition of Rate of Basic Pay
• Instances When Advances May Not Be Made
• Process for Making Pay Advances
• Approval Authority
• Repayment
• Waiver Authority
• Records

Section D - Superior Qualifications and Special Needs Pay Setting Authority

• What is a Superior Qualifications Appointment?
• Justification Criteria
• Process for Making SQA's
• Approval Authority
• Records

Section E - Recruitment and Relocation Incentives

• What is a Recruitment Incentive?
• What is a Relocation Incentive?
• Conditions
• Relocation Incentives for Groups of Relocated Employees
• Service Agreement
• Examples for Calculating Maximum SA Lengths
• Service Agreement Terminations
• Do I Repay My Incentive If I Am Promoted or Reassigned?
• Justification Criteria
• Payment Methods
• Requesting Official
• Recommending Official (RO)
• Approving Officials
• Process for Approving Incentives
• Authority to Approve Incentives for Certain High-Level Individuals
• Records
• Reports

Section F - Retention Allowances

• What is a Retention Incentive?
• Exclusions
• Definition of Category or Group of Employees
• Conditions
• Justification Criteria for Individuals
• Justification Criteria for Group Incentives
• Continuation, Reduction or Termination of an Incentive
• Process for Paying Retention
• Service Agreements
• Authority to Recommend
• Authority to Approve
• Annual Review Process
• Reports

Section G - Pay for Critical Positions

• Conditions
• Justification Criteria
• Process for Requesting Pay for Critical Positions
• Approval Authority

Section H - Re-employment of Military and Civilian Retirees to Meet Exceptional Employment Needs

• Description
• Justification Criteria
• Additional Justification Criteria
• Process for Requesting Approval to Employ Retirees
• Approval Authority
• Records

Section I - Pay for Positions Above GS-15 and for Scientific and Professional Positions (Established to carry out research and development functions)

• Description
• Justification Criteria
• Process for Requesting Authority to Establish New Pay System 
• Approval Authority

Section J - Supervisory Differentials

• What is a Supervisory Differential?
• Conditions
• Justification Criteria 
• Process for Paying Supervisory Differentials
• Approval Authority 
• Records

Section K - Special Salary Rates

• Description 
• Justification Criteria 
• Approval Authority 
• Process for Requesting Special Salary Rates 
• Annual Review 
• Records

Section L - Special Occupational Pay Systems

• Description 
• Justification Criteria 
• Process for Requesting Approval to Establish a Special Pay System 
• Approval Authority

Section M - Annual Leave Service Credit for Prior Employment

• Eligibility
• Retroactive Application
• Amount of Service Credit That May Be Granted
• Exclusions
• What Type of Work Experience is Credible?
• Applicability to Other Service Computations Dates (SCD's)
• Dual Credit
• Conditions for Granting
• Employee Documentation
• Documenting Service Credit for Verification throughout an Employee's Federal Career
• Recommending Official's Written Justification
• Delegation of Authority
• Steps to Follow
• Effective Date for Credit
• How does Non Pay Status, e.g. Leave without pay (LWOP) affect an employee's service for prior work experience?
• Service Agreements
• How long does service credit remain creditable for annual leave accrual purposes?
• What happens to any accrued leave if an employee fails to complete the 1 full year of continuous service with the USDA?
• What happens to service credit hours if an employee separates from Federal Service or transfers to another Agency after completing the 1 full year of continuous service?

Subsection a - Processing Guide/Recordkeeping Procedures

• SF-50B Documentation
  
• Correcting the SF-50B if Block 31 is not completed
• Text of New Remark Codes B73, B74, and B75
• Process to Correct a Mathematical Error
• Action To Be Taken to Withdraw Service Credit if an Employee Fails to Complete 1 Full Year of Continuous Service
• Filing
  

Appendix - Forms

• AD-1073, Recommendation and Approval of Recruitment/Relocation Bonus and/or Retention Allowance 
• AD-1074, Service Agreement for Receipt of Payment for a Recruitment/Relocation Bonus 
• MRP 145-R, Superior Qualifications Appointments 
• MRP 146-R, Statement of Understanding
• MRP 147-R, Annual Salary Computation Sheet for Superior Qualifications Appointment