GS to Pay Band Salary Issue

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Hi All,

I'm facing a problem with a salary conversion in pay band and was hoping for some insight. 

I've been at my agency for nearly 2 years.  My position was a dual grade GS-10/11, with eligibility for promotion to GS-11 after a year of satisfactory performance.  After my 1 year mark, a promotion to GS-11 was being processed.

At the same time, our organization was converting to pay band.  The effective date was 2 weeks after my 1 year mark.  While my GS-11 promo was in-process, HR told me they had to stop the process because I wouldn't be promoted in time before the pay band conversion.  They promoted me in payband instead.  

I was promoted to the same technical level as a GS-11, but the salary level was significantly less than if I was promoted to GS-11 just a couple of weeks earlier.  

I wasn't told about pay band when I was hired and I was disappointed that they did not put me into the system with a GS-11's baseline salary.  Because a GS-11 promo was in process, I obviously expected full 
technical and salary equivalence.

I brought this up to my supervisor 3 months ago.  He keeps telling me that our HR people haven't answered him.  I'm really disappointed with the way my promotion happened and the lack of urgency to address the request.  I was wondering what I could do to ensure this issue is addressed?  I'd like to accomplish something without damaging my career in the long run.  Thanks.

jkarias

Edited by jkarias - 17 Jul 2010 at 8:32am

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jkarias Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 17 Nov 2008 Posts: 5	Post Options Post Reply Quote jkarias Report Post Quote Reply Topic: GS to Pay Band Salary Issue Posted: 12 Jul 2010 at 7:10am
	Hi All, I'm facing a problem with a salary conversion in pay band and was hoping for some insight. I've been at my agency for nearly 2 years. My position was a dual grade GS-10/11, with eligibility for promotion to GS-11 after a year of satisfactory performance. After my 1 year mark, a promotion to GS-11 was being processed. At the same time, our organization was converting to pay band. The effective date was 2 weeks after my 1 year mark. While my GS-11 promo was in-process, HR told me they had to stop the process because I wouldn't be promoted in time before the pay band conversion. They promoted me in payband instead. I was promoted to the same technical level as a GS-11, but the salary level was significantly less than if I was promoted to GS-11 just a couple of weeks earlier. I wasn't told about pay band when I was hired and I was disappointed that they did not put me into the system with a GS-11's baseline salary. Because a GS-11 promo was in process, I obviously expected full technical and salary equivalence. I brought this up to my supervisor 3 months ago. He keeps telling me that our HR people haven't answered him. I'm really disappointed with the way my promotion happened and the lack of urgency to address the request. I was wondering what I could do to ensure this issue is addressed? I'd like to accomplish something without damaging my career in the long run. Thanks. jkarias Edited by jkarias - 17 Jul 2010 at 8:32am

Knight Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 02 Jan 2009 Posts: 1531	Post Options Post Reply Quote Knight Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 12 Jul 2010 at 11:56am
	Bottom line, are you pissed off enough to quit? In the end you either take it or leave it. If you are union get with your union folk and see about addressing this. You might research what the payband pays when there is a promotion and see what the disconnect is.
	Created with recycled electrons so that no pixels were harmed.

2b_fers_retired Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 26 Jun 2009 Posts: 4	Post Options Post Reply Quote 2b_fers_retired Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 12 Jul 2010 at 12:19pm
	Welcome to the federal government! I work for the FAA & I am fortunate enough to be represented by a Union. Of course, now that I no longer financially $upport that Union ..... perhaps my Union representative's motivation would not be what it once was when I was a duespaying/bargaining unit member if I was to encounter similar circumstances. That said, I doubt that those who hired you intended for this to happen. But what I have found in my experience is that those same folks (HR & mgmnt personnel) will certainly not "stick their necks out" to rectify the injustice. Sorry, but sometimes bad things happen because of something as simple as bad timing.

Jeoyb Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Rookie Joined: 27 Mar 2008 Posts: 40	Post Options Post Reply Quote Jeoyb Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 15 Jul 2010 at 5:13am
	You missed the deadline to appeal your case. Usually it's 30 days from the date of the personnel action. Under NSPS that's how they get you. If it weren't for NSPS, you would have been PROMOTED. Under NSPS, the fact of the matter is, you were "NOT PROMOTED" because you were in the same pay band. About your promotion, what do you really meant when you said "my GS-11 promo was in process". Do you have anything to prove that? Like I said, you miss the 30 day deadline to appeal. The moment you start fighting the agency, your career is at stake. It's a way for DoD to say to you "Shut up and take this $$$". That is why NSPS will disappear from the face of this planet. What is the date (appearing on your SF-50) associated with each personnel action?

jkarias Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 17 Nov 2008 Posts: 5	Post Options Post Reply Quote jkarias Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 15 Jul 2010 at 11:52am
	Thanks for the helpful replies. To answer your questions Jeoyb, our management staff sent me an email notifying me that GS-11 promo paperwork was in-process. My supervisor also told me it was. As for the NSPS concerns, I'm not under NSPS. From what you said, I'm pretty happy about that! That brings me to 2b_fers_retired's reply - I'm lucky enough to be in a union as well (I don't pay dues, but maybe I should for a bit!). After reading 2b_fers_retired's reply, I decided to look at my collective bargaining agreement. There is a provision about career ladder positions that did not reach full promotion potential before our transition to pay band. It explicitly states that promotion pay increases shall be equivalent to what the employee's salary would have been without conversion. So like you said, I think it was an honest mistake on the part of my supervisors. I forwarded the provision to my immediate supervisor because he's still talking with HR about the issue. I said that in light of this, an increase and retroactive salary is probably in order. He thanked me for being understanding and patient, and said he would do his best to address the matter. Based on that, I'm hoping their response is positive. If they deny it, I'll have to think about a grievance with my Union. I have to file within 20 days of the event giving rise to the grievance. In this case, denying my request for retroactive back pay would be the event: I asked informally for assistance, I provided a provision they didn't know about, yet they failed to address the matter. Thanks again - J.K.