Effective February 19, 2015, the Postal Service™ is revising Handbook EL-312, Employment and Placement, section 763.22 to update policy on local options for adding tests:
n The title of 763.22 is revised from Local Options for Typing and Driving Requirements to Local Options for Basic Computer Skills and Driving Requirements.
n A new heading, 763.221 General, was added to better organize the text of 763.22 moved under this new heading. This text was revised to allow local management to add Basic Computer Skills Test 718 when filling any vacant position if the officially published qualification standard does not specify it and the applicant is expected to use computer skills on a regular basis. Previously, the policy permitted the local addition of a typing requirement. Also, a sentence that states that local management may not modify or delete existing requirements in official qualification standards was moved from old 763.222 to new 763.221.
n Renumbered 763.221 as 763.222 and revised the title to Basic Computer Skills. Revised the text of new 763.222 to describe the statement to include on a job posting or vacancy announcement when basic computer skills are added. Text addressing computer based tests 714 and 713 are deleted.
n Renumbered 763.222 as 763.223 and revised the text with minor editorial changes for reader ease of use. The last sentence that states that local management may not modify or delete existing requirements in official qualification standards was moved to new 763.221.
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Handbook EL-312, Employment and Placement
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7 Assignment, Reassignment, and Promotion
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76 Bargaining Position Qualification Standards
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763 Bqnet
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[Revise the title of 763.22 to read as follows:]
763.22 Local Options for Basic Computer Skills and Driving Requirements
[Add new 763.221, move the text from 763.22 to new 763.221, and revise the text to read as follows:]
763.221 General
Some position qualification standards do not specify basic computer skills or driving requirements. However, the ability to use a computer, drive, or both, may be essential to the efficient performance of some specific duty assignments. When filling any vacant position with no officially published basic computer skills or driving requirements listed on the qualification standards, local management may add:
a. The Basic Computer Skills Test 718; and/or
b. A driving requirement to operate a motor vehicle or powered industrial equipment.
Basic computer skills or driving requirements must be reasonably related to the efficient performance of the duties of the job, and local management may only add these requirements when the applicant is expected to use computer skills or drive on a regular basis.
Local management may not modify or delete existing basic computer skills or driving requirements in official qualification standards.
[Renumber 763.221 as 763.222 and revise the title and text to read as follows:]
763.222 Basic Computer Skills
If you add a basic computer skills requirement, include the following statement on the job posting or vacancy announcement: Applicants must demonstrate basic computer skills as demonstrated by successful completion of Postal Service Test 718.
[Renumber 763.222 as 763.223 and revise the text to read as follows:]
763.223 Driving Requirements
If you add driving as a requirement, include one of the following statements on the job posting or vacancy announcement, as appropriate to the position:
a. Applicants must have or be able to obtain authorization to operate a motor vehicle.
b. Applicants must have or be able to obtain authorization to operate powered industrial equipment.
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We will publish these revisions in the next online update of Handbook EL-312, Employment and Placement, 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 Click HBKs.
The direct URL for the Postal Service PolicyNet website is http://blue.usps.gov/cpim.
— Human Resources (HQ),
Employee Resource Management, 2-19-15
