Performance Management and Quality Step Increases FAQs
A quality step increase is an additional step increase that may be granted
in recognition of high quality performance above that ordinarily found in the
type of position concerned. (A step increase is an increase in a Federal employee's
rate of basic pay from one step or rate of the grade of his or her position
to the next higher step of that grade or next higher rate within the grade.)
Some frequently asked questions about quality step increases in regards to performance
appraisal and awards regulations include:
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Who can get a quality step increase? |
A quality step increase can only be granted to
an employee whose most recent rating of record is Level 5, or, if covered
by an appraisal program that does not use a Level 5 summary, the employee
receives a rating of record at the highest summary level used by the program
and demonstrates sustained performance of high quality significantly above
the Fully Successful level. |
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Will a written justification
be required to grant a quality step increase to an employee covered by an
appraisal program that doesn't use a Level 5 summary? |
| While employees must receive a rating of record
at the highest summary level used by the program and meet the agency-specified
criteria for qualifying for a quality step increase, a separate written
justification is not required. However, the Office of Personnel Management
strongly encourages agencies to require some form of recorded justification.
Assuring compliance with agency-established criteria for quality step increase
eligibility would be difficult without recorded justifications. The agency
should be able to show that the proposed recipient has performed at a truly
exceptional level to justify a permanent increase in his or her rate of
basic pay. |
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Must the Office of Personnel
Management approve the criteria an agency develops for granting quality
step increases under appraisal programs that don't use a Level 5 summary? |
| No, but the Office of Personnel Management's
Human Capital Leadership & Merit Systems Accountability Division can help agencies develop
criteria best suited for their needs. |
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Is peer nomination for quality
step increases allowed? |
| Yes. Peer nomination for quality step increases
is permissible. However, some process would need to be set up to ensure
that nominated employees meet the eligibility criteria. Also, under section
531.501 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations, final authority for granting
quality step increases must remain with management. |
Frequently Asked Questions
U.S. Office of Personnel Management 1900 E Street NW, Washington, DC 20415 | (202) 606-1800 | TTY (202) 606-2532