Effective October 13, 2005, the Employee and Labor Relations Manual (ELM) 344.5, 363.1, and 363.2 are revised to reflect changes to employment and placement programs.

We will incorporate these revisions into the next printed version of the ELM and into the online version, available on the Postal ServiceTM PolicyNet Web site:

• Go to http://blue.usps.gov.

• Under "Essential Links" in the left-hand column, click on References.

• Under "References" in the right-hand column, under "Policies," click on PolicyNet.

• Click on Manuals for the ELM.

(The direct URL for the Postal Service PolicyNet Web site is http://blue.usps.gov/cpim.)

The ELM is also available on the Internet:

• Go to www.usps.com.

• Click on About USPS and News, then Forms and Publications, then Postal Periodicals and Publications, and then Manuals for the Employee and Labor Relations Manual.

Until the changes described in the article are incorporated into the online version of the ELM, use this article to implement the changes.

Summary of Changes to ELM

344.5, Nonselection of a Veteran, clarifies that selection is made from a Hiring Worksheet.

363, Conversions, adds language that a break in service is usually not given between noncareer employment and career appointment.

Employee and Labor Relations Manual (ELM)

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3 Employment and Placement

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340 Suitability, Selection, and Appointment

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344 Hiring Worksheets

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344.5 Nonselection of a Veteran

[Revise the text of 344.5 to read as follows:]

A veterans' preference eligible may not be passed over to select a nonpreference eligible who is lower on the Hiring Worksheet, unless the selecting official objects to the veteran and the objection is sustained. See Handbook EL-312, 627, Objection to or Pass Over of Preference Eligible, for requirements for passing over a veteran.

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360 Other Personnel Actions

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363 Conversions

363.1 Definition

[Revise the text of 363.1 to read as follows:]

Conversion refers to the process of changing a noncareer employee's status to a career appointment in one personnel action. The selected noncareer employee should not be separated and then given a career appointment unless the employee's appointment expires before the employee can be converted to career status. If a postmaster relief/level replacement (PMR/LR) employee is being converted to career status, the PMR/LR must be separated before being given a career appointment.

[Revise the text and heading of 363.2 to read as follows:]

363.2 Competitive and Noncompetitive Authority

A conversion to career status based on a competitive authority occurs when a selection is made from a Hiring Worksheet and the Hiring Worksheet documents the selection. A conversion to career status based on a noncompetitive authority occurs when a selection is made due to noncompetitive eligibility such as reinstatement, transfer from another agency, or veterans recruitment appointment.

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— Selection, Evaluation, and Recognition,
Employee Resource Management, 10-13-05