OPM Acts on NTEU Petition Addressing Pay for Higher-Graded Work

The Office of Personnel Management is acting on an NTEU petition to help employees who temporarily perform higher-graded work but who are denied full pay for that work.

Managers can assign employees higher-graded work—for months or even years—due to staffing shortages, budget constraints, or retirements. An OPM regulation stands in the way of employees being paid for such higher-graded work if it exceeds 120 days.

In August 2022, NTEU petitioned OPM to change that regulation. In response, OPM proposed a regulatory change that would allow arbitrators to award full pay for employees performing higher-graded work, even if it exceeds 120 days. There will be a public comment period before OPM’s proposal can be finalized.

NTEU is gratified that OPM is taking this important step to help employees receive the full pay they deserve. We will press OPM to finalize its regulatory change promptly.

Read past issues of NTEU’s Judicial Notice.