Waiting Period for Periodic Step Increase for Employee Returned to Former Grade

An advance decision was requested concerning the waiting period for a within-grade increase and the proper timing for the granting of such an increase for a former employee who had been demoted under an adverse action from a permanent promotion position and returned to his former grade. The rules governing waiting periods for step increases on resumption of former grade and step following a temporary promotion are not applicable in this case. Where an increase in pay on promotion constitutes an equivalent increase under applicable rules, the effective date of the promotion would be the inception date for a new waiting period. The fact that the employee was demoted and returned to his former grade would not negate the promotion date as the beginning of the new waiting period.