Recruitment, Relocation and Retention Incentives

For each determination to pay a retention incentive for an employee likely to leave the Federal service, an agency must document in writing-

• The basis for determining that the unusually high or unique qualifications of the employee (or group of employees) or a special need of the agency for the employee’s (or group of employees') services makes it essential to retain the employee(s);
• The basis for determining that the employee (or a significant number of employees in a group) would be likely to leave the Federal service in the absence of a retention incentive; and
• The basis for establishing the amount and timing of the approved retention incentive payment and the length of the required service period.

(See 5 CFR 575.308(b).)