Effective June 13, 2013, the Postal Service™ is revising Handbook EL-312, Employment and Placement, Parts 745 through 747 with updates as follows:
n 745.1 is updated to show the new title of Handbook F-15-A and to delete the exceptions paragraph. This now aligns with relocation policy in F-15-A, which states that there are no deviations to the relocation policy.
n 745.2 is slightly reworded to better state who is responsible for funding allowable travel expenses for review committee members to meet and conduct interviews.
n 746 is revised to clarify that exceptions to selection policies must be approved by the functional officer for Headquarters and Headquarters Field Unit positions.
n 747.2 is revised to update item “b” to show that when 10 or fewer applications are received, the selecting official determines the need for a review committee. It also eliminates item “d” which states that the selecting official notifies non-selected candidates in writing (the HRSSC now initiates this notification electronically), and updates item “e” (formerly item “f”) to add veterans preference laws and regulations to the applicable selection principles.
n 747.3 updates item “a” since the vacancy file for the majority of vacancies is retained in eCareer. It also lists two additional responsibilities for the selecting official related to the vacancy file content and retention, and adds a reference to security clearance processing in item “d” (formerly item “b”).
Handbook EL-312, Employment and Placement
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7 Assignment, Reassignment, and Promotion
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745 Funding
745.1 Relocation Expenses
[Revise 745.1 as follows:]
Employees who are selected competitively or noncompetitively may be eligible to receive reimbursement of authorized relocation expenses as described in Handbook F-15-A, Relocation Policy — Nonbargaining Executive and Administrative Schedule, Management and Technical Pay Band, and Attorney Compensation System Employees.
745.2 Review Committee Travel Expenses
[Revise 745.2 as follows:]
The selecting official’s organization is responsible for funding allowable travel expenses for review committee members to meet and conduct interviews.
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746 Requests for Exceptions to Policies
[Revise 746 as follows:]
Requests for exceptions to these selection policies and procedures must be approved by the manager, Human Resources (Area), in coordination with the area vice president (or the functional officer for Headquarters and Headquarters Field Unit positions). Send a copy of the request to the vice president, Employee Resource Management.
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747 Responsibilities for Selection
747.1 District and Plant Managers
[Revise 747.1 as follows:]
District and plant managers provide policy and direction to all selecting officials and assist with needs assessment as necessary to ensure a quality selection process.
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747.2 Selecting Officials
[Revise 747.2 as follows:]
The selecting official has the following responsibilities:
a. Assesses the applicant pool, defines the area of consideration, and selects applicants for vacancies.
b. Determines the need for a review committee (if 10 or fewer applications are received) and designates only members who are certified in Personnel Selection Methods training.
c. Provides background information to the review committee if needed. This includes a needs assessment and guidelines for the maximum number of applicants to be referred.
d. Coordinates the selection and job offers with Human Resources.
e. Ensures that selections are made in accordance with all applicable selection principles, including equal employment opportunity laws, veterans preference laws and regulations, the affirmative employment program, and diversity objectives.
f. Explains the rationale for the selection process followed and the selection made, if either is questioned.
g. Determines whether newly selected Postmasters must relocate to the vicinity of the Post Office service area to meet operational and community needs.
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747.3 Human Resources Managers
[Revise 747.3 as follows:]
The Human Resources manager (or designee) has the following responsibilities:
a. Works with the Human Resources Shared Service Center to finalize the selection or close the vacancy file.
b. Adds supporting evaluation and recommendation documentation to the vacancy file.
c. Maintains paper vacancy files for the selecting official after completion of a selection process handled outside eCareer.
d. Provides support and guidance to managers on selection, compensation, personnel action processing, and security clearance processing (see Administrative Support Manual 272).
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We will incorporate these revisions into the next online issue of Handbook EL-312, Employment and Placement, which is available on the Postal Service PolicyNet website:
n Go to http://blue.usps.gov.
n Under “Essential Links” in the left-hand column, click PolicyNet.
n On the PolicyNet page, click HBKs.
n (The direct URL for the Postal Service PolicyNet website is http://blue.usps.gov/cpim).
— Organizational Effectiveness,
Employee Resource Management, 6-13-13
