Bonus Bill Set for Voting

The House civil service subcommittee plans to soon vote on a bill (HR-1601) that among other things would improve the recruitment and retention incentive payments that agencies are allowed to offer employees. The measure would boost the maximum payments from the current 25 percent of salary to 50 percent of salary in case of a critical agency need, while making retention bonuses contingent on a service agreement and setting a four-year maximum on the service agreement required of those getting a recruitment bonus. It also would: repeal a provision that has the effect of reducing retirement benefits for CSRS employees who switch to part-time employment late in their careers; fix pay administration anomalies associated with special rates and pay retention; require agencies and the Office of Personnel Management to place a greater emphasis on training; and enhance annual leave benefits for individuals joining the government in mid- or late-career. The measure is expected to be the major civil service reform bill moving in Congress this year and thus might become the vehicle for various add-on amendments. The Senate already has passed a counterpart (S-129).