Rule change paves way for quicker promotions
Agency says eliminating time-in-grade requirement will help government officials recruit and retain highly qualified workers.
The Office of Personnel Management recently issued a final rule that will allow some General Schedule employees to climb the career ladder faster.
The rule, published in the Federal Register on Nov. 7, does away with the one-year time-in-grade requirement for promotions for employees at or above the GS-5 level. The rule will take effect on March 9.
"Eliminating the time-in-grade restriction from the selection process reinforces the principle that promotions are based on an individual's ability to perform the requirements of the position … and not the passage of time," OPM stated in the notice.
The personnel agency originally proposed the change in February, noting that it would allow agencies more leeway in recruiting and retaining the most highly qualified employees in tight labor markets. Eliminating the requirement also would help agencies implement workforce flexibilities such as paybanding or other demonstration projects without having to obtain time-in-grade waivers, according to OPM.
The new policy will not affect eligibility for within-grade pay hikes, OPM said, since there is a distinction between the time-in-grade requirements for promotions and the waiting period for within-grade increases under the General Schedule.
In comments on the draft rule, some agency officials and employee representatives expressed concern that abolishing the time-in-grade requirement could lead to abuse of managers' authorities by letting them promote their favorite employees. Others worried that the change could have a negative effect on minorities and veterans.
But OPM noted that tenure in a grade is only one prerequisite for promotion and managers still must "meet occupational qualification standard requirements and any additional job-related qualification requirements established for the position."
Several people also said eliminating the restriction could increase the payroll costs for federal agencies, since it could correlate with an increase in the number of promotions. OPM responded that promotions are one of several factors -- including collective bargaining agreements and rates of attrition -- that influence costs.
"Agencies are presumed to use sound management practices in making promotions, including consideration of the financial consequences of their decisions," OPM stated.