Employees

ELM REVISION

Postmaster Relief/Leave Replacement Employee Occupation Codes and Salary Grades

Effective January 18, 2007, Employee and Labor Relations Manual (ELM) 419.31, Definition, is revised to update the occupational code of postmasters exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act from EAS-15 to EAS-16. This change results from decisions incorporated in the 2004-2005 management association pay package.

ELM 419.32, Salary Grades, is revised to add a new level 14 occupational code for postmaster relief/leave replacements (PMRs). The revision of the table in 419.32 also describes the characteristics of all PMR positions more clearly.

Employee and Labor Relations Manual (ELM)

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4 Pay Administration

410 Pay Administration Policy for Nonbargaining Unit Employees

* * * * *

419 Supplemental EAS Noncareer Workforce

* * * * *

419.3 Postmaster Relief/Leave Replacements

419.31 Definition

[Revise the text in 419.31 as follows:]

A postmaster relief/leave replacement (PMR) is a noncareer hourly rate employee who performs as a relief or leave replacement during the absence of a postmaster in an EAS-16 or below Post Office.

419.32 Salary Grades

PMRs are employed at the Noncareer Temporary Rate schedule grades indicated below, and are paid in accordance with the Postmaster Relief/Leave Replacements schedule.

[Revise the table in 419.32 as follows:]

* * * * *

We will incorporate these revisions into the next printed version of the ELM and into the next 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, 1-18-07

ELM REVISION

Retirement Counseling

Effective January 18, 2007, Employee and Labor Relations Manual (ELM) 569.1, Retirement Counseling (for Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) employees), and ELM 589.1, Retirement Counseling (for Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) employees), are revised and restructured to update regulatory material from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and to further define Postal ServiceTM internal policy with regard to OPM regulations. The title CSRS and FERS Handbook for Personnel and Payroll Offices is corrected in reference note boxes throughout subchapters 560 and 580.

Employee and Labor Relations Manual (ELM)

* * * * *

5 Employee Benefits

* * * * *

560 Civil Service Retirement Program

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569 General Retirement Information

[Replace the content of the reference note as follows:]

[Replace 569.1 as follows:]

569.1 Retirement Counseling

569.11 Responsibility

The Postal Service ensures that retirement information and counseling are made available to Postal Service employees.

569.12 Retirement Annuity Estimates

Retirement annuity estimates are provided to all employees through the use of the National Retirement Counseling System (NARECS) as follows:

a. Upon request within 3 years of an employee's first optional retirement eligibility date, based on payroll and personnel system-generated retirement computation date.

b. Automatically twice each year once age and service eligibility criteria for optional retirement have been met.

569.13 Group Retirement Information Programs

569.131 Nature of Group Programs

The Postal Service ensures that at least one CSRS retirement information program is held each fiscal year. Sessions are to be open to all employees, regardless of age, years of service, and first date of optional retirement eligibility, and spouses and other interested parties may also attend. These programs are provided using a combination of media and facilitation, with dates, times, and other particulars of the sessions determined by local service personnel. Participation is voluntary and off the clock. Group information programs are supplementary to, not a substitute for, individual counseling as described in 569.14.

569.132 Group Program Content

During the retirement information programs, information on all subjects that may factor in retirement is presented to allow employees to plan constructively for their retirement years.

569.14 Individual Retirement Counseling

569.141 Nature of Individual Counseling

As part of the retirement process, employees may request individual retirement counseling from the Human Resources Shared Services Center (HRSSC). Counseling is provided by a retirement specialist at the HRSSC who can provide detailed information on retirement health benefits, life insurance, and other retirement-related benefits programs. These counseling sessions are conducted via telephone primarily, and they may involve use of a computer and/or electronic media, as appropriate. The retirement specialist may also direct the employee to other sources to obtain information specific to certain topics, including TSP and Social Security. The sessions are on the clock if the retirement specialist is available to provide such counseling during the same tour as the employee.

569.142 Counseling Session Content

Before scheduling the counseling session, the retirement specialist orders an annuity estimate, based on the retirement effective date and type of retirement (optional, disability, etc.) requested by the employee, to be mailed to the employee's address of record.

During the counseling session, the retirement specialist:

a. Reviews the employee's retirement application and verifies that all appropriate documents are signed and dated.

b. Reviews the employee's annuity estimate and answers any questions raised by the employee.

c. Clarifies the employee's work and leave status up to the date of retirement.

d. Identifies the need for additional documents, proofs, affidavits, etc., if necessary.

e. Verifies the civilian and military service history and the advantages, if any, of deposits or redeposits.

f. Addresses other retirement-related benefits and payments, including but not limited to, Alternative Fund Annuity (AFA), health benefits, life insurance, terminal leave, Thrift Savings Accounts, and flexible benefits.

569.143 Advice to Employee

In providing advice to employees, the retirement counselor reminds the employee that:

a. Although information is provided on various provisions and options under the retirement law, final choices (except in the case of management-initiated disability retirement) are the decision of the employee.

b. Any estimate of annuity is preliminary and subject to final determination by OPM.

* * * * *

580 Federal Employees Retirement System

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589 General Retirement Information

[Replace the content of the reference note as follows:]

[Replace 589.1 as follows:]

589.1 Retirement Counseling

589.11 Responsibility

The Postal Service ensures that retirement information and counseling are made available to Postal Service employees.

589.12 Retirement Annuity Estimates

Retirement annuity estimates are provided to all employees through the use of the National Retirement Counseling System (NARECS) as follows:

a. Upon request within 3 years of an employee's first optional retirement eligibility date, based on payroll and personnel system-generated retirement computation date.

b. Automatically twice each year once age and service eligibility criteria for optional retirement have been met.

589.13 Group Retirement Information Programs

589.131 Nature of Group Programs

The Postal Service ensures that at least one FERS retirement information program is held each fiscal year. Sessions are to be open to all employees, regardless of age, years of service, and first date of optional retirement eligibility, and spouses and other interested parties may also attend. These programs are provided using a combination of media and facilitation, with dates, times, and other particulars of the sessions determined by local service personnel. Participation is voluntary and off the clock. Group information programs are supplementary to, not a substitute for, individual counseling as described in 589.14.

589.132 Group Program Content

During the retirement information programs, information on all subjects that may factor in retirement is presented to allow employees to plan constructively for their retirement years.

589.14 Individual Retirement Counseling

589.141 Nature of Individual Counseling

As part of the retirement process, employees may request individual retirement counseling from the Human Resources Shared Services Center (HRSSC). Counseling is provided by a retirement specialist at the HRSSC who can provide detailed information on retirement health benefits, life insurance, and other retirement-related benefits programs. These counseling sessions are conducted via telephone primarily, and they may involve use of a computer and/or electronic media, as appropriate. The retirement specialist may also direct the employee to other sources to obtain information specific to certain topics, including TSP and Social Security. The sessions are on the clock if the retirement specialist is available to provide such counseling during the same tour as the employee.

589.142 Counseling Session Content

Before scheduling the counseling session, the retirement specialist orders an annuity estimate, based on the retirement effective date and type of retirement (optional, disability, etc.) requested by the employee, to be mailed to the employee's address of record.

During the counseling session, the retirement specialist:

a. Reviews the employee's retirement application and verifies that all the appropriate documents are signed and dated.

b. Reviews the employee's annuity estimate and answers any questions raised by the employee.

c. Clarifies the employee's work and leave status up to the date of retirement.

d. Identifies the need for additional documents, proofs, affidavits, etc., if necessary.

e. Verifies the civilian and military service history and the advantages, if any, of deposits or redeposits.

f. Addresses other retirement-related benefits and payments, including but not limited to, Alternative Fund Annuity (AFA), health benefits, life insurance, terminal leave, Thrift Savings Accounts, and flexible benefits.

589.143 Advice to Employee

In providing advice to employees, the retirement counselor reminds the employee that:

a. Although information is provided on various provisions and options under the retirement law, final choices (except in the case of management-initiated disability retirement) are the decision of the employee.

b. Any estimate of annuity is preliminary and subject to final determination by OPM.

* * * * *

We will incorporate these revisions into the next printed version of the ELM and into the next 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, 1-18-07

NOTICE

RIF Competitive Areas for the Postal Service

The Office of Personnel Management requires agencies covered by reduction-in-force (RIF) procedures to establish Competitive Areas and to publish them for their employees. Competitive Areas are organizational units under separate management authority within which preference-eligible employees compete during a RIF. Listed below are the Competitive Areas for the Postal ServiceTM as of January 18, 2007.

¹The unit located in the Washington, DC, commuting area is part of the parent national Headquarters organization Competitive Area.

— Complement, Staffing, and Field Policy, Human Resources, 1-18-07