Pay Raises in 2012? Possible, But Only Under ‘Extraordinary Circumstances’

According to a memo released by OPM Director John Berry to chief human capital officers, the Office of Personnel Management may approve pay increases for certain General Schedule employees in 2012, but only in select cases.

According to a memo released by OPM Director John Berry to chief human capital officers, the Office of Personnel Management may approve pay increases for certain General Schedule employees in 2012, but only in select cases.

As readers know, the President instituted a two year pay freeze on the pay of federal employees back in November. Berry’s memo notes this, however it also says, “an exception to the freeze on special rate schedules will be considered only in extraordinary circumstances.”

So what might these exceptions for “extraordinary circumstances” be? According to OPM, in order for an agency to warrant a determination that such circumstances apply, the agency “must make a compelling case that denial of a special increase would result in exceptionally severe recruitment and/or retention difficulties and would have an extremely negative impact on critical agency operations during the coming year.”

OPM also notes that any such requests have to be submitted through the requesting agency’s headquarters and be submitted no later than October 7, 2011, unless an extension is granted by OPM.

Full text of the special rates memo along with accompanying attachments

About the Author

Ian Smith is one of the co-founders of FedSmith.com. He has over 20 years of combined experience in media and government services, having worked at two government contracting firms and an online news and web development company prior to his current role at FedSmith.