Question mainly for GS Government workers on promotion stuff

[Rob Base 2.0]

So my government job is a GS 9/11/12 (Full performance GS12). I started as a GS 9 (right after labor day last year) and my year is almost up.

So I got an email from my boss's boss first thing Thursday morning saying Congrats on raise, blah blah, but then I read it again and the raise was a Step increase and not a promotion. (for those that don't know- a step increase is a small automatic raise that government workers get at specific periods, so it's like a $2,000 a year salary increase for step increase  vice a $12,000 a year increase for promotion for me).

So I asked my boss about it and she just said kind of nonchalantly, "well I only got a notification to approve you for a Step increase".  So I told her, "You know my job is a GS 9/11/12 right?  I should be getting a promotion to GS 11 shouldn't I?"  She said she would ask the HR people about it. 

If I am promoted on time, it should be effective for the 4 - 15 Sep pay period, meaning pay date of 22 Sep.

Knowing the speed of government bureaucracy, I am slightly concerned.  And a bit miffed my boss didn't seem to think it was a priority (she hasn't said a word since Thursday morning (so to me that is 2 days- she had all day Thursday & Friday to find something out for me), I know she is busy so figured to give her until close of business Monday to give me an answer (end of the day it's usually just me and her in the office anyway due to other's work schedules starting early). 

And for background info, in end of June I did email her to remind her of potential upcoming promotion (and I phrased it carefully saying things like "if you decide to promote me on XX date, blah blah....." vice "I should be / expect to be promoted on blah blah........"), also we discussed it in person early of July, and I emailed her again the very end of July.  So she should have been well aware.

Also since my email about the step increase early Thursday morning, I talked to a friend I know at another HR office.  She said it's normal to get a step increase first, since technically the year is finished before the Promotion is effective, so a few days later they should submit an action to promote me a day or 2 after the step increase is effective (so I would then lose the step increase but gain the promotion since that is more money).  Didn't make sense to me but it settled me some what.

Also they haven't finalized my annual appraisal / evaluation yet (I haven't seen it anyway), but I did get a Time Off Award and a small cash bonus, so I assume they think I am doing good work.  My boss has not raised any issues with my work,

So what do you all think?

If I am not happy with the answer on COB Monday I plan to ask my union rep for advice (not for any actions or any complaints, just what they recommend that I should do next)

Thoughts?

[Politically_Incorrect12]

I'm not sure if it's still this way, but there used to be a difference between a GS level increase and a step increase.  For example, you could be a GS level 9, step 1 increasing to GS 9, step 2...which is different than increasing in GS level. So it may really just depend on if they think you've met the criteria for more than just a step increase or not....

[Rob Base 2.0]

Aug 19, 2017 9:50:45 GMT -5 Politically_Incorrect12 said:

I'm not sure if it's still this way, but there used to be a difference between a GS level increase and a step increase.  For example, you could be a GS level 9, step 1 increasing to GS 9, step 2...which is different than increasing in GS level. So it may really just depend on if they think you've met the criteria for more than just a step increase or not....

it's exactly that way. I guess i didnt explain it goid in the OP?

The step increase ($2,000 per year) is automatic. The promotion (raise in GS level for 12,000 per year) kind of is supposed to be too for the specific job offer for this position. Or they r supposed to tell me I am not getting promoted. but if not promoting me, why time off award and small bonus?

[TheOtherMe]

The job I had was 5/7/9/11 and then you had to apply.  About half the group I came in with came in as 7's.  I was one of those.  I don't remember any more if the step came first, but as long as your evaluations are good, the 9/11/12 should open after one year in the previous grade. 

Mine all had a wonderful woman working in Personnel and she made sure everything was done correctly and timely.  She retired at the mandatory 72 and died shortly thereafter.  It took 3 people to replace her and the 3 combined were not as good as her.

[Phoenix84]

It is a bit strange, if your PD says 9/11/12 then it's usually pretty automatic if you're meeting expectations and doing an acceptable job.

It usually does require your boss to take the action though.  I'd just talk to her about it.  I can understand the concern about it being tacky, asking for a promotion, but you should find a way to do it.  If no other time, during your performance appraisal, it should become a priority to have an open discussion about it.  Your boss is required to sit down with your privately and talk about your performance, so that would be a good time.  If that's too long, then talk about it with her beforehand.  Be prepared to give examples of why you deserve a promotion to GS 11.  If she's a good boss, she won't be upset for you asking about it or talking with her openly.  It's not like it's her money that she's giving up by promoting you.  

If she's not a good boss, at least you'll find out.  She can't fire you for asking for a promotion and at least you'll know where you stand.  Then you should start applying for another government job.  

My current job I was hired as a GS 12 with full performance at GS 13.  My boss was pretty good at giving me the metrics I needed to meet to get GS 13, and is always open to talks about pay and stuff.  

[Rob Base 2.0]

yep i know my boss or HR needs to take action which is why i asked her about it 3 times from june to end ofjuly (via email & in person as i stated in the OP)

also i asked her about it this EARLY Thursday morning and she said she would ask HR. She didn't say "I'm not promoting you" or anything like that. So in my mind she has had 2 days (prety much all day thurs and Friday).

my co worker is about 14 months ahead of me and is also a 9/11/12. She got promoted and she does mediocre work. So my boss should be familiar with the procedure.

The only "counseling" we had was an informal initial and i explained i dont need a lot of hand holding and i know you (meaning boss) are busy, so if i dont hear from u i assume i am doing a good job. i also asked her if i was NOT meeting the standards to let me know early and not wait until eval time to tell me. She agreed. Like i said no eval yet (still being worked, but my part is done), but i got a time off award and a small cash bonus so i assume i did good.

In her defense, she just had a family death she was out for 3 weeks for, so i know she is not 100% up and running yet at work, but i still would like a better response.

i'll see what develops end of day Monday

[TheOtherMe]

Good luck.  If you got a performance award, you should be fine on the evaluation.

[wvugurl26]

I've had steps come in a pay period or two before the grade. I was told they could back date the step to the beginning of the pay period but you needed the full year for the grade.

[Rob Base 2.0]

Aug 19, 2017 15:59:15 GMT -5 wvugurl26 said:

I've had steps come in a pay period or two before the grade. I was told they could back date the step to the beginning of the pay period but you needed the full year for the grade.

glad to know that. thanks.

[countrygirl2]

Son is a GS 13 plus, not sure at what level, think near the top of that level, he is getting
a 15% pay increase, likely cost of living to make this move. However, he found out he is expected
to supervise the NE training section AFTER he received his letter to move and with no promotion.
He is rather miffed about it, but nothing he can do and he wouldn't anyway as he likes his
job. Also the letter states if he didn't take it they could terminate him, I'm sure its standard
verbage but still.

He said there are only 5 of them for the military, I'm sure more for each branch of the services,
and now they are talking about making them "at will" employees. These are highly specialized
jobs with degrees and long on the job training too. I can only imagine the chaos this will
cause, he said its likely they do not want to pay people at his level. More instability in jobs
may be coming, what a shame. Costs of living going up and up and wanting to pay people less
everywhere.

[Rob Base 2.0]

anyone else have experience / knowledge?

[1Day@aTime]

Our positions are 7/9/11 and anything above that is a competitive promotion.

For me, that was 15 years ago and I can't remember. Kinda thought it was automatic.

Anyway just asked my boss and yes, it's automatic.  The only time the boss intervenes in the grade increase is if he/she wants to stop it for some valid reason.

[1Day@aTime]

Aug 21, 2017 11:03:24 GMT -5 1Day@aTime said:

Our positions are 7/9/11 and anything above that is a competitive promotion.

For me, that was 15 years ago and I can't remember. Kinda thought it was automatic.

Anyway just asked my boss and yes, it's automatic.  The only time the boss intervenes in the grade increase is if he/she wants to stop it for some valid reason.

at least that's how it works in our office anyway...

[Rob Base 2.0]

the other thing i was told was since my official start on SF50 is 6 Sep 2016 (Tuesday, day after labor day) is that most orgs only make promotion effective at beginning of a pay period.

Since my one year mark starts a day or 2 after that pay period will start, i have to kind of wait an extra pay period.

[TheOtherMe]

That is where your step increase comes in, I think.  It will hit first and then the grade increase.

[wvugurl26]

Aug 21, 2017 20:39:21 GMT -5 Rob Base 2.0 said:

the other thing i was told was since my official start on SF50 is 6 Sep 2016 (Tuesday, day after labor day) is that most orgs only make promotion effective at beginning of a pay period.

Since my one year mark starts a day or 2 after that pay period will start, i have to kind of wait an extra pay period.

Sounds like what happened to me. If your date isn't the first day of the pay period, you have to wait until the next pay period. However for some reason I don't understand, steps aren't treated the same way.

[1Day@aTime]

Aug 21, 2017 21:24:40 GMT -5 wvugurl26 said:

Aug 21, 2017 20:39:21 GMT -5 Rob Base 2.0 said:

the other thing i was told was since my official start on SF50 is 6 Sep 2016 (Tuesday, day after labor day) is that most orgs only make promotion effective at beginning of a pay period.

Since my one year mark starts a day or 2 after that pay period will start, i have to kind of wait an extra pay period.

Sounds like what happened to me. If your date isn't the first day of the pay period, you have to wait until the next pay period. However for some reason I don't understand, steps aren't treated the same way.

[Rob Base 2.0]

And I asked my boss this morning about it and she said "we're working on it" or something like that.

she sounded kinda irritated (I am not sure why--I asked her about it Thursday morning and only followed up today since she hadnt said anything so far. I mean it's been 3 business days since i last asked about it)

oh well, whatevs....,'i took it as a positive response. i think it will be good.

[countrygirl2]

Seems like son said they get an annual increase, not sure, I will ask him about promotions etc.
He gets all kinds of commendations from the military but like he said that's just pieces of paper
but it would help him get a job if he ends up back in the private sector one day. Way things are
going you never know anymore.

He is really busy right now, not much time to talk as they are starting the South Korea war games
tomorrow.

[TheOtherMe]

The way the "annual increases" work depends on where you are in your career.

There are 10 steps within the grades.  Within grade increases are based on adequate performance.  For steps 1-3, they happen annually.  For steps 4-6, it's every 2 years.  For 7-9, it's every 3 years,  If you at the top of your GS level for your job and are at Step 10, you only get a raise if Congress decides you get a raise.  Federal employees have been losing money in the past few years because Congress has not voted to give them a raise.

You can get an award that includes a step increase if you are an exceptional employee.  When you get promoted, you get the equivalent of two steps in your current GS level.  If that lands you in the 3 step territory, that is what you get.

[countrygirl2]

Son told me about steps but I'm not sure about all of it, we don't really talk about it much.

[TheOtherMe]

I didn't get an inheritance that my cousins got because my parents had told a single uncle when I got promoted to GS-13.  When he died, there was a note in his house that I made enough money.  Uncle was also a federal employee so he knew the ballpark of what I made. 

So all my cousins inherited money from him and I didn't.

[gacpa]

I didn't get an inheritance that my cousins got because my parents had told a single uncle when I got promoted to GS-13. When he died, there was a note in his house that I made enough money. Uncle was also a federal employee so he knew the ballpark of what I made.

So all my cousins inherited money from him and I didn't.

Sorry this happened to you, TOM.  That is not right to leave you out because you have a job.  You include everyone because they are Family.  No one has control over the money once they are gone.  Savers will continue to save, spenders will continue to spend.

My father's brother passed this spring.  He never married or had kids.  He left his estate to his four nieces and nephew equally.  The nephew has never been able to handle money, but Uncle left him an equal share to be fair just the same.  The nephew has already spent a huge chunk of his inheritance, bought his daughter a new $40,000 truck, financed about half of it.

[TheOtherMe]

Aug 23, 2017 8:31:38 GMT -5 gacpa said:

I didn't get an inheritance that my cousins got because my parents had told a single uncle when I got promoted to GS-13. When he died, there was a note in his house that I made enough money. Uncle was also a federal employee so he knew the ballpark of what I made.

So all my cousins inherited money from him and I didn't.

Sorry this happened to you, TOM.  That is not right to leave you out because you have a job.  You include everyone because they are Family.  No one has control over the money once they are gone.  Savers will continue to save, spenders will continue to spend.

My father's brother passed this spring.  He never married or had kids.  He left his estate to his four nieces and nephew equally.  The nephew has never been able to handle money, but Uncle left him an equal share to be fair just the same.  The nephew has already spent a huge chunk of his inheritance, bought his daughter a new $40,000 truck, financed about half of it.

He also left out a 2nd cousin because she had gotten pregnant while in high school and not married.  That I could not believe.  She needed the money.

My mom had a brother with no children.  His estate was left to the nieces and nephews equally and that is the way it was distributed.  I used to have the list.  There around 30 cousins and we each got around $15K.  Not a huge inheritance, but something.

My mom and her sisters each got about $600 from one of their uncles.  The brothers wondered why they got excluded. Turned out the girls had all been molested by this uncle. 

Mom's dad was determined to leave each of his 15 children $1,000.  When everything was settled, they each got a little over $900.  Not bad for someone who lost his farm during the depression and had to start over.

[gacpa]

The Other Me,

Wow, you uncle must have been really judgemental towards all, including family. 

My uncle's estate included his one third interest in two family farms.  He split this evenly between the four nieces and nephew.  My aunt owns one third and my mom owns one third.   When my father passed, my mother had me and my sister sign over our share of the farms back to her.  She said this is what Dad had wanted, so I did it.  I have slept well all these years with that decision.

While I was visiting this summer, she said she wanted me to sign the land left to me by my uncle over to her via a beneficiary deed.  That way, ownership would revert to her if I should die first.  She did not want my share to go to my husband and son.  I have a great husband, we have been married 34 years (he is a GS 13 also).  Our son is a good kid, and we feel so fortunate with our lives.

So, this is hard to write about and painful.  I apologize for hi-jacking this thread.  I just need to vent.  I was very hurt by her request.  Since she said she would not be cutting distribution checks and I would have to pick up the K-1 on my taxes each year without any funds from the farm to help pay the tax, I just went to the lawyer and signed a quit claim deed giving the land completely over to her left to me by my uncle.  With this land, I have now deeded over $250,000 in land to her.  I had to pay the lawyer to draw up the paperwork.  I thought this would keep the peace, since she we keep after me until she got the beneficiary deed done.

I am just so thankful I have never had to ask her for money and that we have been able to take care of ourselves all these years.  We have made sure to spend vacations and holidays, with my parents so they could know their only grandchild.  The last thing my father said to me was to thank me for letting them see their grandson grow up. 

I am really disappointed in her request.  It is hard for me to understand why she made an issue out it.  Thanks for letting me vent.  I apologize for getting off track with this thread.

[TheOtherMe]

I am so sorry, gacpa.  That would hurt me, too.

My uncle was very judgmental.  That teenager had been his favorite of that generation and all because she got pregnant, she was nobody in his eyes.

[Rob Base 2.0]

Well I finally got my appraisal. I did good enough.

During the review, boss told me "ur a GS 11 now, higher expectations....yadda yadda...."

So I assume all is good. we'll see in 3 weeks.....

[countrygirl2]

Good for you, sounds great.

Son has had to send paperwork for his loan pre qual I'm helping him
with. I'm so proud, he is making in the low 6 figures and has amassed
a very very healthy savings. He has pensions also and 15 years credited
as a federal employee. Don't they get retirement at 20?

He said he has 5 credit cards and does like us keeps them paid off
monthly, no debt.

He is getting ready to pull the trigger on a house $200 to $280k
somewhere with 20% down, could pay more but I said why? This way
no PMI. They said he can get a lower interest rate then VA since
his finances are so good, also he is a first time homebuyer. He plans
to pay it off way early so he won't have that issue. What gets me
is the ones he is looking at have annual taxes from $4k to $6k
that almost makes me choke! That would really hurt us.

Best part is he has excellent insurance for his family also.

He is going to be a trainer for the northeast quadrant of the US
for what he does, there are 5 total that have his position.  That

is for the army and I'm assuming each branch of service has similar.

He has really done well for himself, guess we did ok with him.

[TheOtherMe]

Under CSR retirement, I was able to retire with 30 years at 55.  However I took a buyout before then.

Under FERS,

What Is the Minimum Retirement Age for Federal Employees?

The Federal Employees Retirement System, or FERS, has a minimum retirement age, or MRA, that is less than 65. The MRA establishes the youngest age at which a federal employee may retire.

For much of the federal workforce, their MRA is 57. Employees who were born before 1970 can retire a little earlier. Precisely how much earlier depends on how old they are. The lowest MRA is 55 for people born before 1948.

Like many retirement systems, FERS uses the rule of 80. This rule states that in order to be eligible for retirement an employee must reach a combined 80 years when adding age and federal service.

FERS pensions are a combination of Social Security and what they get from the government.  Since I was never in that program, I don't know exactly how it works.