Effective immediately, Handbook EL-312, Employment and Placement, is revised to reflect changes to external employment policies as a result of implementation of the Human Capital Enterprise System (HCES) eCareer module for external selection. Because the revisions to Chapter 4 are extensive, we are not publishing the entire text. Instead, in this article, we provide a detailed summary of the revisions.
Summary of Changes to Handbook EL-312
Chapter 4, Registers, the title is changed to Processing External Vacancy Announcements and Veterans’ Preference Claims to better reflect the content of the chapter.
41, Introduction, is added to state that chapter 4 is about the process used to: (a) announce vacancies to external applicants; (b) determine the order in which competitive applicants are considered; and (c) adjudicate claims for veterans’ preference.
411, Definition, is revised to: (a) change title to Definitions; (b) remove the definition of “register”; and (c) define key terms used in chapter 4.
412, Responsibility, is revised to state that the following organizations are responsible for externally posted vacancies and the security of associated records: (a) Headquarters Talent Acquisition office for Headquarters and Headquarters field unit vacancies; and (b) Human Resources Local Services office for vacancies within their districts.
413, Restricted Records, is revised to: (a) identify the kinds of records that are restricted; (b) state who may be authorized to review these records on a need-to-know basis; and (c) clarify when information about individual employees may be released to collective bargaining agents.
414, Arrangement of Applicants, is moved to subchapter 44.
415, Information Given to Applicants, is deleted.
42, Merging New Scores With Existing Ratings, is deleted.
42, Announcement and Application Process, is added to describe the process for: (a) announcing vacancies and attracting applicants; (b) processing and accepting applications; and (c) determining eligibility.
43, Usage and Duration, is deleted.
43, Examination Results and Notices of Results, is added to describe the process for (a) sending applicants a Notice of Results; (b) notifying ineligible applicants; (c) allowing applicants to retake a test; (d) adjudicating veterans’ preference; and (e) breaking ties.
44, Transfer of Eligibility and Canvassing is deleted.
44, Determining the Order of Applicants on a Hiring List, is added to incorporate text from 414, Arrangement of Applicants, and to describe the process for determining the basic order for arranging applicants on a hiring list, taking into consideration the following categories: (a) applicants claiming preference based on compensable disability; (b) all other eligibles; (c) jobs restricted to preference eligibles; (d) EAS scientific and professional positions; and (e) order for general application file.
45, Other Applicant Processes, is revised to describe process and responsibility for: (a) applicant change in name, address, or veterans’ preference claim; and (b) failure to respond.
46, Change to Register Configuration, is deleted and reserved.
47, General Application File, is changed to 444, Order for General Application File.
48, Veterans’ Preference, is revised as follows:
481, Requirement, is revised to: (a) cite the legal and regulatory authority for veterans’ preference in employment; (b) state that the applicant is responsible for providing supporting documentation; and (c) clarify procedural requirements.
482, Authority of Appointing Official, is revised to: (a) change title to Authority to Adjudicate Veterans’ Preference; (b) describe the adjudication process; and (c) state that the adjudication official is the district Human Resources manager.
483, Kinds of Veterans’ Preference, is changed to state that: (a) for veterans’ preference purposes, the final day of Operation Iraqi Freedom is August 31, 2010; and (b) any Armed Forces Campaign or Expeditionary Medal qualifies for veterans’ preference.
484, Proof of Preference Claimed, is revised to state that: (a) applicants who claim veterans’ preference status involving a veterans’ disability are not asked to provide information related to the nature of the disability or medical conditions; and (b) applicants claiming 10-point preference complete SF 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, and attach the information specified on the back of the SF 15 to support entitlement.
485, Adjudicating Claims for 5-Point Preference, is revised to describe the documents required and the process for verifying an applicant’s entitlement to 5-point veterans’ preference.
Exhibit 485, Wars, Campaigns, and Expeditions of the Armed Forces That Qualify for Veterans’ Preference, is revised to: (a) add a medal to those that do not provide a basis for veterans’ preference: Global War on Terrorism Service Medal for service from September 11, 2001, to date to be determined; and (b) change the end date of Operation Iraqi Freedom from “present” to “August 31, 2010.”
486, Adjudicating Claims for 10-Point Preference, is revised to: (a) describe the documents required and the process for verifying an applicant’s entitlement to 10-point veterans’ preference, clearly stating that when applicants submit a copy of a Rating Decision Letter to support a claim for 10-point preference and the Rating Decision Letter contains medical information, the adjudicator will acknowledge receipt of the information, indicate successful adjudication of the claimed preference on the bottom of the SF 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, and promptly return the document containing the medical information to the veteran applicant without retaining a copy; and (b) state that Headquarters adjudicates claims for spouse and mother preferences.
487, Noting Adjudicated Preference on Application and Register, is revised to: (a) change the title to Adjusting Veterans’ Preference After Adjudication; (b) describe the process for adjusting veterans’ preference after adjudication; and (c) state the requirement to promptly return documents with medical information to the veteran applicant.
We will incorporate the complete text of this revision into the next printed version of Handbook EL-312 and into the online update 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.
(The direct URL for the Postal Service PolicyNet website is http://blue.usps.gov/cpim.)
— Selection, Evaluation, and Recognition,
Employee Resource Management, 5-19-11
