Fedweek

Among recently introduced bills in Congress is S-561, to set a 3.2 percent federal employee pay raise for January 2022, to be divided as 2.2 percent across the board plus 1 percentage point to be divided as locality pay.

The measure mirrors one (HR-392) previously introduced in the House and acts as statement of intent by its Democratic sponsors in advance of the annual budget process which sets the raise for the following year. That process typically starts in early February with the submission of the White House budget containing its position on a raise but that has been delayed this year due to the presidential transition. It remains unclear when that proposal will be made.

Meanwhile, several Senate Republicans have reintroduced (S-489) a bill to prohibit those with “significant unpaid tax liability” from employment with the federal government—either to be newly hired or to remain in current jobs—unless they are working with the IRS to settle that debt. The bill also would require annual public reporting by agencies of tax delinquencies among their employees.

Also introduced was HR-1624, to expand MSPB appeal rights to certain non-bargaining unit employees there who currently lack those rights. Currently, employees covered by the postal Executive and Administrative Schedule pay system have those rights only if they are veterans or if they are in certain personnel-related positions.

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2022 Federal Employees Handbook