OPM has issued guidance regarding the status of pay for special rate employees in 2007, stating that as usual, the large majority of those employees—white-collar employees who get pay higher than general schedule rates because they are in hard-to-fill positions—will get the across-the-board component of the raise, plus their special rate adjustment. Special rate employees receive the higher of that adjustment or the local GS locality pay rate, but not both. In addition, 17 special rate authorities are being ended because the rate of locality pay in their areas now exceeds the special rate adjustment. The change will not result in any loss of salary for affected employees. For a closer look, go to fedweek.com/HotFreeNews in the hot free info section of our website.