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Show Hilltop times June 16, 1994 ESDI?-Continued from page OPM changes provisions 1 What is a retention register? A retention register is a list of competing employees within a competitive level who are grouped in order by tenure, veteran preference and RIF service computation date. Health benefits can continue for 18 months after RIF separation A Q What is an assignment right? An assignment right is the right an employee has to be assigned to a position in a different competitive level that is held by another employee with lower standing on a retention register. The two types of assignment rights are bump and retreat. A If the employee elects to slay and use their annual leave they will attain first eligibility for retirecost, the government cost, and involunis ment annuity andor Federal Employee Health trative fee. However, if the i mpluyee be will Benefits Program annuitant coverage. tarily separated due to RIF. they cost only. responsible for their Because of the volume of employees separating The provision applies to employees who are tin- KiiriLli'ments and Uciu fits office will holdotherwise enrolled in FKHB at the time of their ing group sessions beginning in September to exseparation and who are involuntarily separated by plain the process and answer questions on IU F. or who resign or retire after receipt of a 1UF temporary continuation of health insurance. Temnotice. separation porary continuation of health insurance is not auIf a employee is separated, they will receive a tomatic, and employees mu,st apply in order to 3 L day temporary extension of coverage at no cost continue health insurance coverage for the 18 to the employee. Enrollment charges begin on the month period. day after the free 31 day temporary extension Employees will be contacted in August with more information about the' group sessions to be If a person wishes to continue their health in- held in September. . surance after separation they must notify the EnFor more information contact Carolyn Bronson, titlements and Benefits office within 30 days after Ext.. the date of separation. Q What is a bump right? A bump right is an assignment right to a position that is held by an employee who is in a lower RIF tenure and subgroup. An employee only needs to be basically qualified for the other position. An employee may bump only at the same grade or no more than three grade levels below that of his or her current position. An employee may not bump another person within their own subgroup, even if the other person has a later RIF service computation date. 2 percent adminis- Atheiesfederal' and grade that civilian' an employee previously held service' oh a permanent basis. An employee may only retreat to a position held by another employee who is in the same RIF tenure and subgroup and who has a later RIF service computation date. An employee may retreat only at the same grade or no more than three grade levels below that of his disabled veteor her current position. (A ran in RIF Subgroup IAD or HAD may retreat as low as five grade levels.) Schedule series there are one grade intervals or two grade progressions. For example, some-seriewhile others progress progress GS-6-7-- . What is a representative rate of pay?. Representative rate of pay is the hourly rates used to compare pay in different' pay sched-- " ules. In RIF, representative rates are used to ensure that an employee gets the best entitled offer without exceeding limits set by RIF regulations. Representative rate of pay is Step 4 for the GS pay schedule, and Step 2 for WG, Wage Leader and WS. The grade level used in RIF assignment rights A A depends on the normal progression tasnsE of promo- - current position. For example, some" series progress Other series may progress Wage In the General. Supervisor-10- . 2. j Civvies authorized for AF flights News Briefs members flying on Air Force military or contracted aircraft may now wear civilian clothes during flights regardless of duty status or destination. The change was effective March 24. ;'If a commander requires a uniform or if it's in tljeju: orders to fly in uniform, they must comply .with taOse orders," said Air Frce.MSgtV Hal Gldver of ; the! Air Force Uniform Board a. the Pentagon.. VBut if there is no order to fly in uniform; they can : fly in any appropriate attire." Civilian clothing must be neat, clean and sensible for the mode of travel and destination. Some Air Force operational flights may expose passengers to inclement weather, so members are encouraged to wear suitable attire. "Ripped or torn clothing, tank tops, shorts and clothing considered obscene or offensive are inap- propriate," said Glover. "Most of the services have similar guidelines. oh what , they consider ap- Lawrence, the center's dress and appearance NCO, said members flying between military bases may travel in battle dress or similar service uniform. However, members on flights leaving from or arriving at civilian terminals must wear the travel uniform authorized by their service regulations if they .;;-:, travel in uniform.'; . . : Glover said some restrictions may still apply for service members flying overseas to specific locations. He advised all members to check the DOD Foreign Clearance Guide for uniform or civilian propriate.';;;:;::;:: Members still Vaye the' option of flying in uniform on Air Force flights. However, they must check on the flight's destination to decide on the proper uniform, said Air Force SSgt. Keith Lawrence of the Air Force Military Personnel Center at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. -- Published by MorMedia, Inc., a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force, under exclusive written contract with Hill AFB. This commercial enterprise Air Force newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. military services. Contents of the Hilltop Timet are not necessarily, the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. government, the Department of Defense or the Department of the Air Force. of : The best offer is the one that pays the most within "; arf employee's bump and retreat rights. When an employee has assignment rights to positions in different pay schedules, representative rates of pay are compared to determine the best offer' for purposes of RIF. An offer through RIF may not exceed the employee's current salary. , temporary lodging dislocation and move-i- n : al- lowances. -- - . clothing requirements at their destination. No taxes on moving allowances American Forces Information Service The Internal Revenue Service will not tax service members' allowances, IRS officials said May 18. moving ' "The financial cloud over the head of our military personnel has been removed," Defense Secretary William J. Perry said. IRS will issue guidance on the 1993 Revenue Reconciliation Act that changed tax rules on moving expenses. Under the guidance, service members will not be taxed on temporary lodging expense and "I welcome-thi- s announcement," Perry said. "It resolves the dUenima we confronted concerning these allowances. The act had the potential of creating serious problems for up to 800,000 military personnel. We were interested in a legislative solution to this issue, but that will no longer be necessary." Perry had sent letters to the chairmen of the House and Senate Armed Services committees asking for their help if IRS insisted on taxing moving allowances. An IRS release said the guidance "will also confirm that no deduction is allowed for any expenses incurred in connection with a transfer of military personnel to a new permanent duty station to the extent the expenses are reimbursed by an excludable allowance." The guidance appears in Internal Revenue Bulletin 1994-2dated June 6, 1994. 3, Pardon our dust The 649th Civil Engineering Squadron Sabre Team began working on the air conditioning in the Officers Club on June 10 and the work is scheduled to continue for several months. If anyone has questions, contact Jim Winder, Ext. Global Power and Reach for America. " "Air Force people building the world's most respected Air and Space Force Hilltop Times lev- 1 .. How is a best offer determined in RIF? Employees released from their competitive els during a RIF are entitled to the best offer A available within the constraints RIF regulation. 8, GS-5-7-9-1- 1: Q What is a grade level for purposes of RIF? American Forces Information Service Service Q s 30-perce- nt Grade-5-8-10-1- - - What is a retreat right? A retreat right is an.assignment right to a" ser- in The Office of Personnel Management has also established provisions that would allow an embeployee to be carried in an annual leave status as long yond their scheduled separation date, as the employee has enough annual leave in their An employee involuntarily separated due to reduction in force, may be eligible to temporarily continue health benefits covered under Federal Employees' Health Benefits after separation, up to 18 months. Any employee who elected temporary continuation of coverage is required to pay the employee The appearance of advertisements in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of the Air Force or MorMedia, Inc. of the products or services advertised. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase,. use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user or Hill AFB Editorial Mai- - Gen. Utter L. lyUs Lt. Col. Frank J. Urben Frances Kotakowtky Jay Joertx, Valerie Chavei Staff: Commander, Director, Public Affaire Editor Staff writers OO-AL- C Deadlines! Editorial and "Around tho Hill" rtom, 3 p.m. Tuesday, nino dayt boforo publication; tportt orticUt, 9 a.m. Monday, wlc of publication clottifiod odi, 2 p.m. y, wook of publication. For mora Information, call tho odi-to- r, Ext. patron. Editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by the Ogden Air Logistics Center Public Affairs Office staff. Bldg. 1102, Room 118, Ext. 77321. Unless otherwise indicated, all photos are U.S. Air Force photos. Two-da- . TO PLACE AN ADVERTISEMENT, CALL 394-965- 5 (OGDEN) OR 532-777- 4 (SALT LAKE CITY). POOR COPY |