OPM Repeals the One-Year Time-in-Grade Wait: Merit or Favoritism?
OPM has finalized the repeal of the federal time-in-grade rule, ending the one-year wait that General Schedule employees have faced before becoming eligible for a promotion. The repeal takes effect January 19, 2027, and it raises a question every federal employee should be asking: who decides when you are ready for your next promotion, the calendar or your boss?
What Is Changing
Since the 1950s, federal employees have had to spend a full year in grade before they were even eligible for the next step up. OPM finalized the repeal of that rule on October 19. The one-year clock goes away effective January 19, 2027.
OPM’s Case for the Repeal
OPM Director Scott Kupor calls the old rule anti-merit. His argument is that an employee who is performing above and beyond should be promoted on the manager’s timeline, not the calendar’s. In OPM’s own words, time-in-grade prevents nothing that a supervisor intent on favoritism cannot accomplish by waiting 52 weeks, and what it reliably prevents is the timely promotion of employees who are ready.
The Concerns From the Other Side
OPM declined to write new governmentwide standards to replace the rule. Kupor says agencies will set their own, and that will take time. The Partnership for Public Service says managers will not automatically know how to do this well. Democracy Forward warns that the obvious risk is loyalists being fast-tracked past more qualified career employees. Those are the positions of the groups named, and how agencies actually use the new flexibility remains to be seen.
What This Means for You
The rule is not in effect yet, and agency promotion criteria have not been written. Until they are, it makes sense to keep your own record of your accomplishments, performance ratings, and promotion-related communications with your supervisor. If you have watched a promotion at your agency go to the right person, or the wrong one, you are not alone in noticing. If you believe a promotion decision was made for an improper reason, a conversation with the attorneys for federal employees at Southworth PC can help you understand your options and deadlines.
Legal Disclaimer: This content is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Federal employment situations are fact-specific and time-sensitive. Please consult a qualified federal employment attorney about your specific situation.