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Performance Management Performance Management FAQs

  • A quality step increase (QSI) is a pay feature of the General Schedule. A QSI can only be granted to an employee whose most recent rating of record is Level 5, or, if covered by an appraisal program that does not use a Level 5 summary, the employee receives a rating of record at the highest summary level used by the program and demonstrates sustained performance of high quality significantly above the Fully Successful level.
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  • We would not recommend it. Giving employees the choice between different types of awards could have significant tax consequences. Employee choice usually involves the concept of constructive receipt. For more information on this issue see our document, Tax Issues for Awards or contact the IRS.
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  • An appraisal system describes the general policies and parameters for the administration of performance appraisal programs in the agency. An appraisal program is the specific procedures, methods, and requirements for planning, monitoring, and rating performance. Programs have to be designed within the boundaries of the system but can be tailored to the needs of the organization.
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  • No. Each program must use a single pattern of summary levels. To use different summary patterns, agencies must define separate programs and employee coverage to which a single pattern applies. However, more than one program can use the same summary pattern.
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  • If an employee transfers from one agency to another, the gaining agency is not obligated to "honor" the time-off award. Therefore, any unused time-off awards are not transferable, unless a special arrangement is made with the receiving agency to honor the time-off award granted by the employee's former agency. Also, the losing agency may not convert the time off to cash and give that cash to the employee.  Unlike other forms of pay for time not worked (e.g., annual and sick leave), employees are not entitled to a time-off award.
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  • Governmentwide regulations specify four types of awards that can be given to Federal employees: lump-sum cash awards, honorary awards, informal recognition awards, and time off awards
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  • Governmentwide regulations do not establish a minimum time that an employee must be under a supervisor before he/she can be rated. Instead, the regulations require that appraisal programs establish a minimum appraisal period (a minimum amount of time that employees must work under a specific set of elements and standards) before they can be assigned a rating of record. As long as a supervisor has the necessary information and the employee has been under an established set of elements and standards for the minimum appraisal period, the supervisor can assign a rating.
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  • Under no circumstances may a political appointee receive an award in the form of cash or a time-off award during a Presidential election period.  An agency may grant a political appointee an honorary or informal recognition award during a Presidential election period, provided that the form of the award avoids the appearance of replacing a bonus.
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  • A critical element is a work assignment or responsibility of such importance that unacceptable performance on that element would result in a determination the employee's overall performance is unacceptable. Governmentwide regulations require employees have at least one critical element in their performance plans. Critical elements must address performance at the individual level only.
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  • There are no Governmentwide limits on granting time-off awards. However, agencies should establish their own guidelines and limitations on how much time off is appropriate for various employee contributions.
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  • Yes. Agencies can authorize the development of separate appraisal programs under the framework of their appraisal system. This would allow their various subcomponents or subpopulations to determine how best to address their needs and cultures and more effectively manage individual and organizational performance by tailoring specific appraisal procedures and requirements to mission and work technology.
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  • Yes. Federal employee appraisal law requires Federal agencies to establish one or more appraisal systems. If an agency finds a need to describe different general policies and parameters for different groups of employees, it can develop more than one appraisal system. However, the Office of Personnel Management anticipates that most agencies will not find it necessary to develop more than one set of general policies and guidelines.
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  • Governmentwide performance management regulations do not specifically designate who has the authority to assign a rating of record.  The agency will determine who has this authority.
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  • The "currency" of a time-off award is time, not money. Agencies have the authority to grant cash awards when they feel that is the appropriate form of recognition or incentive.
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  • A non-critical element is a dimension or aspect of individual, team or organizational performance, exclusive of a critical element, used in assigning a summary level. It may include, but is not limited to, objectives, goals, program plans, work plans, and other means of expressing expected performance.
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  • Governmentwide regulations do not specify a minimum amount of time a supervisor must be on the job before he/she may rate an employee.  Agency performance appraisal programs may require a minimum amount of time the supervisor must be on the job before rating an employee.
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  • There is no Governmentwide time limitation on a time-off award. However, agencies should set their own policy concerning the time allotted to use a time-off award. Remember, if an employee transfers to another agency, the new agency is not required to honor the time-off award earned at the previous agency.
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  • No. Agencies may not file documents for awards in employees' OPF, except for Presidential Rank awards and Quality Step Increases (QSI). Agencies may file documentation of award actions in the Employee Performance File (EPF), including when they maintain the EPF on the left side of the OPF (temporary documents) at their discretion.
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  • A retention standard describes the level of performance necessary to be retained in a job (i.e., the standard written for performance one level above the Unacceptable level). In appraisal programs where a Minimally Successful or equivalent level exists for appraising elements, the retention standard is the Minimally Successful or equivalent standard. In appraisal programs that do not have a Minimally Successful or equivalent level available, the retention standard is the Fully Successful standard. The Merit Systems Protection Board and the courts have held that an agency
    • must ensure that retention standards:
    • are reasonably attainable
    • are not impermissibly absolute (allow for no error)
    • inform the employee of the level of performance needed to retain his or her job
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  • No, but they are  similar.  A performance rating is the appraisal of the employee's performance compared to the elements and standards established in the performance plan.  The rating of record is a specific performance rating done at the end of the appraisal period that includes the appraisal of the elements and standards and also must include the assignment of a summary level (Levels 1-5).  A summary level is an ordered category of performance from Level 1 through Level 5, with Level 1 as the lowest and Level 5 as the highest.  Performance ratings assigned at times other than the end of the appraisal period (such as at the mid-year review, for promotion panels, or similar situations) do not require a summary level to be assigned, although one is permitted.
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Total Count: 135, Number of Pages: 7, Page: 1