Impact on Within-Grade Increases

Quality Step Increases (QSIs) do not affect within-grade increases (WGIs)
unless:

• the QSI will move the employee from Step 3 to Step 4 of his/her grade
• the QSI will move the employee from Step 6 to Step 7 of his/her grade

In the above cases, the waiting period for the next WGI is extended by 52 weeks. However, the time an employee has already waited for the WGI counts towards the next increase.

Examples:

Scenario One

Elaine is scheduled to receive a WGI and move from a GS-12/3 to a GS 12/4 on February 7, 2004. Elaine's supervisor recommends her for a QSI at the end of the appraisal cycle (9/30/03), which becomes effective on 11/02/03. As a result, Elaine will not receive her WGI on February 7, 2004. Instead, she will become a GS-12/5 the following year--on February 7, 2005.

Despite the increased waiting period, Elaine has still benefitted:

Date	Without the QSI	With the QSI
11/2/03	GS-12/3	GS-12/4
2/7/04	GS-12/4	GS-12/4
2/7/05	GS-12/4	GS-12/5
2/7/07	GS-12/5	GS-12/6

Scenario Two

George is scheduled to receive a WGI and move from a GS-7/6 to a GS 7/7 on November 8, 2003. George's supervisor recommends him for a QSI at the end of the appraisal cycle (9/30/03), but notes George's upcoming WGI anniversary. The supervisor waits to submit the QSI recommendation until after November 8, 2003. As a result, George becomes a GS-7/7 on 11/08/03 and then becomes a GS-7/8 within the next couple of months after the QSI becomes effective. Without holding the QSI, George would've become a GS-7/7 in October, but then would have to wait another year (11/08/04) to become a GS-7/8.

Page last edited: January 17, 2008