Source: https://forum.federalsoup.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=87374&find=unread
Timestamp: 2020-07-06 03:40:01
Document Index: 359578160

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 351', '§ 351', '§ 351', '§ 351', '§ 351', '§ 351', '§ 351']

USCIS Furlough notices? Did you receive one yet?? - Page 3 - DHS - Federal Soup
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USCIS Furlough notices? Did you receive one yet??
#41 Posted : Monday, June 29, 2020 7:47:04 AM(UTC)
Was thanked: 84 time(s) in 79 post(s)
Pay grades have nothing to do with the furlough selection. SCD only.
So information is going out that major errors were made with the furlough selections. Looks like we're going to be going through this again.
#42 Posted : Monday, June 29, 2020 8:52:12 AM(UTC)
I did some research into this, and this is what I found. I linked my sources. I think the important information is at the bottom regarding the agency's right to define the competitive area.
5 CFR § 351.601 - Order of release from competitive level.
§ 351.601 Order of release from competitive level.
(1) As required under § 351.606 when an employee is retained under a mandatory exception or under § 351.806 when an employee is entitled to a new written notice of reduction in force; or
(2) As permitted under § 351.607 when an employee is retained under a permissive continuing exception or under § 351.608 when an employee is retained under a permissive temporary exception.
https://www.opm.gov/poli...g/reductions-in-force/#9
Defining the Competitive Area
When preparing for a RIF, the agency defines the "Competitive Area" that establishes the geographical and organizational limits for RIF competition.
A competitive area may consist of all or part of an agency. The minimum competitive area is an organization in a local commuting area that is separate from other agency organizations because of differences in operation, work function, staff, and personnel administration. Separate personnel administration is the authority of managers to authorize personnel actions (i.e., establishing positions, abolishing positions, etc.), not just process personnel actions. For example, a single personnel office may potentially process actions for multiple competitive areas.
https://www.opm.gov/poli.../workforce_reshaping.pdf
OPM Definition of Competitive Area
Competitive Area. The organizational and geographic boundaries in which employees compete in a RIF. Agencies have the option of establishing a competitive area comprised only of pay band positions when the competitive area would otherwise include pay band positions and other positions not covered by a pay band.
Edited by user Monday, June 29, 2020 8:53:27 AM(UTC) | Reason: Not specified
GreatlakesISO
#43 Posted : Monday, June 29, 2020 11:26:20 AM(UTC)
This roll out of notices is poorly executed. I feel for my colleagues in Service Centers who have received their notices. As of now, my field office hasn’t received any notifications. I don’t know if other field offices have.
Edited by user Monday, June 29, 2020 11:26:50 AM(UTC) | Reason: Not specified
Megs2693
#44 Posted : Monday, June 29, 2020 11:44:28 AM(UTC)
Joined: 11/16/2018(UTC)
Was thanked: 26 time(s) in 11 post(s)
Originally Posted by: GreatlakesISO
FOD starting sending theirs out about an hour ago.
#45 Posted : Monday, June 29, 2020 11:54:36 AM(UTC)
That's not entirely true. As already mentioned in this thread, the agency sets the Competitive Level. That is, the agency groups interchangeable positions into competitive levels based upon similarity of grade, series, qualifications, duties and working conditions. Any positions with different types of work schedules, such as full-time, part-time, intermittent, seasonal, or on-call, are placed in different competitive levels. Also, because of the differences in duties and responsibilities, supervisory positions and management officials are placed in competitive levels of only those types of positions. And last, competitive and excepted service positions are placed in separate competitive levels. Usually, the agency shares the competitive levels and competitive areas in advance with any union involved.
John_NE
#46 Posted : Monday, June 29, 2020 12:31:36 PM(UTC)
Did anyone from NBC receive the notices yet? I am quite confused, as one Division Chief was placed on potential furlough however the Section Chiefs were untouched. But for sure, we were told duties and responsibilities play an immense factor. Same Level, but the person who has an expertise on a key operational factor, she was saved compared to others of higher SCD. Damn errors and rushed list, to some extent favoritism.
#47 Posted : Monday, June 29, 2020 1:00:21 PM(UTC)
Field office received notices, got mine. Pretty depressing.
#48 Posted : Monday, June 29, 2020 1:30:50 PM(UTC)
Just got my notice Very depressing for sure, I was the 10th most senior employee in our office of BUE employees... almost 24 years..
#49 Posted : Tuesday, June 30, 2020 2:41:46 AM(UTC)
Originally Posted by: tpadul
Sorry to hear that. We have 34 year employees with Vet Pref that received a notice. We may hear more today about the potential error with the list. More to come.
#50 Posted : Tuesday, June 30, 2020 2:47:47 AM(UTC)
I can only go by what executive management communicated to us. That is to say, supervisors and BUEs were all in the same pool and position, job series, etc. had no consideration. The hierarchy was as follows:
-Vets with disability
-Vets w/o disability
-Non-Vet Preference
Each category ranked based on length of service and performance ratings.
#51 Posted : Tuesday, June 30, 2020 3:40:24 AM(UTC)
The hierarchy is actually: 1. tenure of employment (e.g., type of appointment); 2. veterans' preference; 3. length of service; and 4. performance ratings. But, that's within a competitive area and competitive level. The federal regulation governing competitive level (5 C.F.R. § 351.403) provides:
Each agency shall establish competitive levels consisting of all positions in a competitive area which are in the same grade (or occupational level) and classification series, and which are similar enough in duties, qualification requirements, pay schedules, and working conditions so that an agency may reassign the incumbent of one position to any of the other positions in the level without undue interruption.
Bold added. So, regardless of what might have been said, they have to follow the law and the USCIS bargaining agreement. I'm not sure if the 2016 contract is still in place, but it addressed RIF in Article 48. Under the 2016 contract, the RIF article specifically indicates: "All reductions-in-force, transfer of function, reorganizations, and furloughs will be carried out in compliance with applicable laws, and any alleged failure to comply with such laws and regulations will be processed in accordance with the Grievance Procedure Article of this Agreement, or for cases appealable to the MSPB, in accordance with its rules." Under the same article, employees receiving a RIF notice have the right "to review retention lists pertaining to all positions for which they are qualified." This would expressly include the retention register "for their competitive level and those for other positions for which they are qualified, down to and including those in the same or equivalent grade as the position offered by the Agency." For employees to be separated, the list should include "all positions equal to or below the grade level of their current positions." Finally, any affected employees have "the right to the assistance of the Union when reviewing such lists of records."
Eternal-Itch
#52 Posted : Tuesday, June 30, 2020 5:34:47 AM(UTC)
Joined: 5/1/2009(UTC)
I haven't heard of anyone yet in my field office who hasn't been furloughed, including the FOD (which is odd). I haven't contacted everyone, but it appears tenure, performance appraisal rating, and vet preference had little or no affect. Someone told me this is just phase one, where all the furloughs will now be reviewed at District and Field level for final decision (FDNS person told me this). Again, just heard this, nothing in writing or from management.
Bros1980
#53 Posted : Tuesday, June 30, 2020 6:30:22 AM(UTC)
Joined: 10/13/2019(UTC)
So how may people are being furloughed? Is it 6000 or still 13000?
#54 Posted : Tuesday, June 30, 2020 6:48:30 AM(UTC)
Originally Posted by: Bros1980
FOD alone sent out 5500 furlough notices. Approximately 70 % of the agency is being furloughed so I'd say the number is closer to 13,000.
#55 Posted : Tuesday, June 30, 2020 6:57:51 AM(UTC)
I would say the number would significantly reduce to may be 10,000 at the end. Due to business requirements, technical errors (system generates furloughed and retained lists for each competitive level retention register) 50% retained at my unit. They have collected sufficient fees to pay these folks.
#56 Posted : Tuesday, June 30, 2020 7:59:46 AM(UTC)
Are they done send notices to people that work at FOD?
#57 Posted : Tuesday, June 30, 2020 8:28:01 AM(UTC)
Hi there, Yes I think so, according to the way the most recent email was sent around 9:52am central time this morning from the
USCIS Deputy director they said they issued approximately 13,900 furlough notices and then talked about if you did not get one blah blah blah... so it looks as if they are done sending them.
I still don't get it , there are other ISO 2 officers at my office that are non-military that have less time than me and they did not get notices, but I am also an ASC manager so I don't know if they looked at the grouping of us ASC managers and cut me, even though one other officer in our ASC group still has less time in than me, and is not military and also has all "outstanding" PWP did not get a notice.
None of this makes much sense. but it does look like all the notices have been sent out.
Sad times for sure....
Edited by user Tuesday, June 30, 2020 8:32:23 AM(UTC) | Reason: Not specified
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