B-164515, JUNE 24, 1968, 47 COMP. GEN. 774
Highlights
PROVIDED THE DATE IS NOT EARLIER THAN THE DATE THE LEAD AGENCY ACTUALLY PRESCRIBES THE SCHEDULE. REQUESTING OUR DECISION CONCERNING THE PROPRIETY OF IMPLEMENTING INSTRUCTIONS COVERING THE COORDINATED FEDERAL WAGE SYSTEM WHICH ARE SET FORTH IN CHAPTER 532 OF THE FEDERAL PERSONNEL MANUAL TO INCLUDE A REQUIREMENT THAT EACH AGENCY IN A GIVEN WAGE AREA MAKE NEW WAGE SCHEDULES RESULTING FROM WAGE SURVEYS EFFECTIVE ON THE SAME DATE EVEN THOUGH ON OCCASION THIS WOULD REQUIRE INDIVIDUAL AGENCIES TO APPLY THE NEW WAGE SCHEDULES RETROACTIVELY. WE UNDERSTAND THAT UNDER THE COORDINATED FEDERAL WAGE SYSTEM A PARTICULAR AGENCY IS DESIGNATED AS A LEAD AGENCY FOR EACH WAGE AREA AND THAT SUCH AGENCY CONDUCTS THE WAGE SURVEY AND DEVELOPS WAGE SCHEDULES FOR USE BY ALL AGENCIES IN SUCH AREA.
B-164515, JUNE 24, 1968, 47 COMP. GEN. 774
COMPENSATION - WAGE BOARD EMPLOYEES - COORDINATED FEDERAL WAGE SYSTEM IN VIEW OF THE DESIGNATION UNDER THE COORDINATED FEDERAL WAGE SYSTEM CONTAINED IN CHAPTER 532 OF THE FEDERAL PERSONNEL MANUAL OF A LEAD AGENCY IN EACH WAGE AREA TO CONDUCT A WAGE SURVEY AND DEVELOP WAGE SCHEDULES FOR USE BY ALL AGENCIES IN THE AREA, AN INDIVIDUAL AGENCY NO LONGER MAY EXERCISE DISCRETION AS TO WHETHER A PARTICULAR SCHEDULE SHOULD BE PLACED IN EFFECT AND, THEREFORE, INSTRUCTIONS MAY BE ISSUED TO REQUIRE EACH AGENCY IN A WAGE AREA TO PLACE A NEW WAGE SCHEDULE IN EFFECT ON THE DATE DECIDED UPON BY THE LEAD AGENCY, PROVIDED THE DATE IS NOT EARLIER THAN THE DATE THE LEAD AGENCY ACTUALLY PRESCRIBES THE SCHEDULE.
TO THE CHAIRMAN, UNITED STATES CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION, JUNE 24, 1968:
WE REFER TO YOUR LETTER OF JUNE 4, 1968, REQUESTING OUR DECISION CONCERNING THE PROPRIETY OF IMPLEMENTING INSTRUCTIONS COVERING THE COORDINATED FEDERAL WAGE SYSTEM WHICH ARE SET FORTH IN CHAPTER 532 OF THE FEDERAL PERSONNEL MANUAL TO INCLUDE A REQUIREMENT THAT EACH AGENCY IN A GIVEN WAGE AREA MAKE NEW WAGE SCHEDULES RESULTING FROM WAGE SURVEYS EFFECTIVE ON THE SAME DATE EVEN THOUGH ON OCCASION THIS WOULD REQUIRE INDIVIDUAL AGENCIES TO APPLY THE NEW WAGE SCHEDULES RETROACTIVELY.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT UNDER THE COORDINATED FEDERAL WAGE SYSTEM A PARTICULAR AGENCY IS DESIGNATED AS A LEAD AGENCY FOR EACH WAGE AREA AND THAT SUCH AGENCY CONDUCTS THE WAGE SURVEY AND DEVELOPS WAGE SCHEDULES FOR USE BY ALL AGENCIES IN SUCH AREA. UNDER THE COORDINATED SYSTEM AN INDIVIDUAL AGENCY NO LONGER MAY EXERCISE DISCRETION AS TO WHETHER A PARTICULAR SCHEDULE SHOULD BE PLACED IN EFFECT AND THE SCHEDULE DECIDED UPON AND MADE EFFECTIVE BY THE LEAD AGENCY IS THE SCHEDULE APPLICABLE FOR THE WHOLE AREA. IN VIEW THEREOF AND IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THE DESIRED DEGREE OF UNIFORMITY IT APPEARS TO BE ENTIRELY APPROPRIATE TO IMPLEMENT THE INSTRUCTIONS TO REQUIRE THAT EACH AGENCY IN A WAGE AREA PLACE THE NEW SCHEDULE IN EFFECT ON THE DATE DECIDED UPON BY THE LEAD AGENCY PROVIDED SUCH DATE IS NOT EARLIER THAN THE DATE THE LEAD AGENCY ACTUALLY PRESCRIBES THE SCHEDULE. YOUR SUBMISSION IS ANSWERED ACCORDINGLY.