Retroactive Promotion with Backpay

The Forest Service's Director of Personnel Management requested an advance decision as to whether an employee may receive a retroactive promotion and backpay for performing duties while on detail at a higher-grade level for the period prior to which the position was established and classified at the higher grade. Although the duties performed were normally assigned to a higher-level position, the claim may not be paid since an employee cannot be promoted to a position which has not been classified.