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ELM REVISION

Equivalent Grades Chart

Effective May 25, 2006, Employee and Labor Relations Manual (ELM), Exhibit 418.1, Equivalent Grades, is revised to delete the column regarding rate schedule code (RSC) S, Postal Career Executive Service (PCES) Executives. This change is made because a PCES level 01 has been deemed not equivalent to an Executive and Administrative Schedule (EAS) (RSC E) level 26.

The chart describes how different grades are related between pay schedules. The human resources computer system [Complement Management System (CMS) or Human Capital Enterprise System (HCES)] is programmed with this information to generate the appropriate nature of action (NOA) code on PS Form 50, Notification of Personnel Action, when an employee is approved for reassignment into a new pay schedule.

Employee and Labor Relations Manual (ELM)

* * * * *

4 Pay Administration

410 Pay Administration Policy for Nonbargaining Unit Employees

* * * * *

418 Assignment to a Different Salary Schedule

418.1 Equivalent Grades

When an employee is reassigned, reduced in grade, promoted, or otherwise permanently or temporarily changed to a position in another salary schedule, see Exhibit 418.1 for grades that are equivalent for pay purposes. This chart determines the appropriate nature of action (NOA) triggered when processing a PS Form 50, Notification of Personnel Action. Special salary handling during an involuntary reduction in grade involving bargaining unit employees is performed in accordance with the applicable collective bargaining agreement.

Exhibit 418.1
Equivalent Grades

[Delete entire column entitled "S - PCES Executives".]

C - Mail Equipment Shops & Material Distribution E - EAS U - Attorneys F - A-E Postmasters G - Postal Nurses K - Operating Services Division M - Mail Handlers N - Information/Technology Accounting Service P - Postal Service Q - City Carriers R - Rural Carriers T - Tool & Die Shop Y - Postal Police Officers
- 1-4 - - - - - - - - - - -
- 5 - A-E - - - - - - - - -
- 6 - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - 1 - - - - - - -
- 7 - - - 2 - - - - - - -
1 8 - - - - - - 1 - - - -
2 9 - - - 3 - - 2 - - - -
3 - - - - 4 - - 3 - - - -
4 10 - - - 5 4 6, 7, 8 4 - - 4 -
5 11 - - X * 6 5 9, 10 5 - X * - -
6 12 - - - 7 6 11, 12 6 1 - 6 X *
7 - - - - - - 13 7 2 - 7 -
8 13 - - - 8 - 14 8 - - 8 -
9 14 - - - 9 - 15 9 - - 9 -
10 15 - - - - - 16 10 - - - -
11 16 - - - - - 17 11 - - 11 -
12 17 - - - - - 18 12 - - - -
- 18 - - - - - 19 - - - - -
- 19 - - - - - 20 - - - - -
- 20 - - - - - 21 - - - - -
- 21 - - - - - 22 - - - - -
- 22 - - - - - 23 - - - - -
- 23 - - - - - - - - - - -
- 24 - - - - - - - - - - -
- 25 X* - - - - - - - - - -
- 26 - - - - - - - - - - -
* X signifies a single-level schedule.
EQUIVALENT GRADE DETERMINATION - To use the chart:
Step 1. In the horizontal list at the top, locate the salary schedule and grade of the employee's position before the change action.
Step 2. Cross over to the salary schedule into which the employee is being assigned.
Step 3. Determine the nature of the placement action from the following:
If the new grade is ... Then the placement action is ...
On the same line as the previous grade, Lateral reassignment to an equivalent grade.
On a lower line than the previous grade, Promotion.
On a higher line than the previous grade, Reduction in grade (change to lower level).
The number of lines on the chart between the old grade and the new grade is considered to be the number of grades changed for the purpose of calculating promotions or reductions in grade.

We will incorporate these revisions into the next printed version of the ELM and into the online update, 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.

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

It is also available on the Postal Service Internet:

• Go to www.usps.com.

• Click on About USPS & News, then Forms & Publications, then Postal Periodicals and Publications, and then Manuals.

— Compensation,
Human Resources, 5-25-06