Changes in IRS Pay Bands Proposed

By: fedweek

The IRS could establish broader pay bands for its employees covered by a pay banding system and could more closely link pay and performance, under proposed rules in the April 17 Federal Register from OPM. The proposed rules would: allow bands to encompass grades not included under the current bands; require each IRS broadbanding system to include at least one band that combines two or more general schedule grades; require that within-band raises be based on performance appraisals that meet certain criteria; provide additional flexibility to grant within-band increases; and bar pay raises of any type for employees rated below “fully successful” or its equivalent. The IRS has had authority to use broadbanding for its general schedule employees since a 1998 reform law, although in practice it has been applied only to certain management employees.