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• If an agency can establish different amounts of additional service credit in different reductions in force, different competitive areas, and even different summary level patterns, how can they apply the additional service credit in a uniform and consistent manner?
  Once an agency determines how it will assign the amounts of additional service credit based on performance, everyone who has ratings of record with the same summary level within the...
• Must agencies file Standard Forms 50 (SF50) for awards in employees' Official Personnel Files (OPF)?
  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...
• What happens if an employee does not have three ratings of record in the last four years?
  If an employee has fewer than three ratings of record during the last four years, the actual rating(s) of record available would serve as the sole basis of the employee's...
• How much does the additional service credit based on performance affect the outcome of a reduction in force?
  The possible effect of performance-based additional service credit is most likely to appear in the second round of the reduction in force process, when employees exercise their bump (into positions...
• Which ratings of record are used for crediting performance in a reduction in force?
  Additional performance-based credit can be applied only to ratings of record put on record (i.e., given to the employee with all appropriate reviews and signatures and available to the office...
• When deriving a rating of record above "Unacceptable," can an agency assign greater weight to non-critical elements that describe team performance in order to emphasize their importance?
  Yes. An agency can design procedures for deriving a rating of record that assign greater weight to non-critical elements (which may be used to measure team performance and may affect...
• If all the ratings of record being credited for a reduction in force in the competitive area are under a single rating pattern, does the agency still have the option to vary credit?
  No, the agency may only vary credit if the competitive area includes employees with ratings of record being credited for this reduction in force that were received under more than...
• Would referral bonuses violate the prohibition in the criminal code against receiving anything of value for helping a person get a Government job by referring his or her name?
  No, the prohibitions contained in the criminal code do not bar agencies from providing referral bonuses to employees who have referred potential job applicants. An opinion from the Office of...
• Can ratings given by private industry employers be used as equivalent ratings of record for crediting performance in a reduction in force?
  No. Only ratings given by Federal Government entities can be used and only when they meet the requirements for equivalent ratings of record as specified in the performance management regulations.
• Under an appraisal program with two summary levels (Pass/Fail), can an agency establish some criteria other than, or in addition to, the Level 3 (Fully Successful or equivalent, e.g., pass) rating of record for achieving an acceptable level of competence?
  No. Governmentwide regulations require a rating of record of at least Level 3 (Fully Successful or equivalent) as the basis for the acceptable level of competence determination. There is no...

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