U.S. Office of Personnel Management www.opm.gov - Recruiting, Retaining and Honoring a World-Class Workforce to Serve the American People
Reservist Differential
Federal Civilian Employees Called to Active Duty
Federal workers' pay should be protected when they put on the uniform to defend America. But it is not for some members of the Guard and Reserves.
We are now taking a large step toward making workers whole through 'reservist differential' payments. Under a new law, OPM has published instructions for agencies on how to properly pay eligible Federal civilian employees who are serving in the Reserves or National Guard. This new law will protect them and their families by making up the difference between their active duty military pay and their civilian basic pay whenever their civilian basic pay is higher.
- John Berry Director, OPM
Section 751 of the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009 (Public Law 111-8, March 11, 2009) added a new section 5538 to title 5, United States Code. This new section provides a new benefit to certain Federal civilian employees who are (1) absent from employment with the Federal Government because they are ordered to perform active duty in the uniformed services under a provision of law specifically referenced in 10 U.S.C. 101(a)(13)(B) and (2) entitled to reemployment rights under 38 U.S.C. chapter 43 based on such absence.
Information on Reservist Differential
Additional Information on Reservist Benefits
Historical Memos
This page can be found on the web at the following url: http://www.opm.gov/reservist/index.asp
U.S. Office of Personnel Management 1900 E Street, NW, Washington, DC 20415 | (202) 606-1800 | TTY (202) 606-2532