Fed HR refusing to promote me to GS-13

[Anonymous]

I entered the government as a PMF (presidential management fellow) in a policy position that normally has promotion potential up to GS-13. Somewhere on my initial paperwork, my supervisor wrote that my final position would be a GS-12. Then this year, when my supervisor turned in my paperwork for a GS-13, HR stopped the process and said because of my PMF paperwork I would have to compete for my GS-13. Ok, that's fine, except our agency's hiring freeze apparently prevents this and my supervisor applied for an exception.

It has been months. I am so frustrated and I don't know what do to. Has anyone been in a similar position? Do I just have to wait? No one has given me any timeline on when I could get my promotion. I am good at my job and feel like this situation is so demeaning for no reason.

[Anonymous]

Same issue here. I'm actually a GS 12 acting for a 13 and have been acting unpaid for 2 years now (the position I'm acting was a GS 13/14 before they retired). My Department will not post jobs above a GS 11 in headquarters. Apparently only regions are allowed to get new hires above GS 11, which I've heard is coming from this administration.

Lots of people are in the same position. I'm frustrated that they're trying to move positions to the regions because it makes no sense. I think an agency works better when it's in one location. Plus, the cost of living in a place like Denver is the exact same as DC, so it's not like there's a cost savings to the government.

[Anonymous]

Yea frustrating but it isn't going to magically change because the paperwork said (mistakenly or not) GS12 landing. You'll need to go through the petition process, and realize it most likely is not going to change anything.

[Anonymous]

My advice would be try to detail to a position that could have GS 13 potential then get hired that way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My advice would be try to detail to a position that could have GS 13 potential then get hired that way.

That doesn't work in most agencies. Just because you're on a detail doesn't mean they can hire you. They'd have to post it on USA jobs and then you'd be competing with the veterans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yea frustrating but it isn't going to magically change because the paperwork said (mistakenly or not) GS12 landing. You'll need to go through the petition process, and realize it most likely is not going to change anything.

Petition process? Is this at every agency? Would I petition for my promotion?

[Anonymous]

This is coming from the administration. It's ridiculous. Our promotions and hiring are all frozen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Same issue here. I'm actually a GS 12 acting for a 13 and have been acting unpaid for 2 years now (the position I'm acting was a GS 13/14 before they retired). My Department will not post jobs above a GS 11 in headquarters. Apparently only regions are allowed to get new hires above GS 11, which I've heard is coming from this administration.

Lots of people are in the same position. I'm frustrated that they're trying to move positions to the regions because it makes no sense. I think an agency works better when it's in one location. Plus, the cost of living in a place like Denver is the exact same as DC, so it's not like there's a cost savings to the government.

Talk to your Union Rep. They love stuff like this. OP just needs to find a new job to apply to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is coming from the administration. It's ridiculous. Our promotions and hiring are all frozen.

Yes I think it's part of "drain the swamp." We have so many people leaving but no one is getting backfilled. I'm at an agency that the administration likes too, so I'm sure it's worse at EPA or State.

[Anonymous]

Are you sure the job really has promotion potential to the 13? Double check your PD and the announcement (or your application in USAJOBS). If this was truly an error when you were hired, they need to fix it.

[Anonymous]

I had 3 employees that were on a PD that went to a 13 and 1 that went to a 12. Not sure why there PD's were different since they did the same job.

The 1 person did a desk audit and got the 13. Not sure how to do that. Maybe somebody here know how.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Same issue here. I'm actually a GS 12 acting for a 13 and have been acting unpaid for 2 years now (the position I'm acting was a GS 13/14 before they retired). My Department will not post jobs above a GS 11 in headquarters. Apparently only regions are allowed to get new hires above GS 11, which I've heard is coming from this administration.

Lots of people are in the same position. I'm frustrated that they're trying to move positions to the regions because it makes no sense. I think an agency works better when it's in one location. Plus, the cost of living in a place like Denver is the exact same as DC, so it's not like there's a cost savings to the government.

Ha, I think I know where you work based on the Denver thing. If so, I'm in the same boat. Frustrating as hell.

[Anonymous]

yup pmf here too and you're screwed. as an anecdote i got hired as a gs9 from law school (two weeks earlier someone with a masters got in at gs11 based on school years). then i was gona try of accelerated promotion but then that was gone too. then the position was not gs13 anymore just gs12. so i just took a detail at another agency, stayed, did awesome, and converted there with a gs14 scale. goodluck but i'd move from this agency, if they're not trying to help it won't happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:yup pmf here too and you're screwed. as an anecdote i got hired as a gs9 from law school (two weeks earlier someone with a masters got in at gs11 based on school years). then i was gona try of accelerated promotion but then that was gone too. then the position was not gs13 anymore just gs12. so i just took a detail at another agency, stayed, did awesome, and converted there with a gs14 scale. goodluck but i'd move from this agency, if they're not trying to help it won't happen.

The bolded doesn't make sense to me. How could someone with a masters come in at GS11 from the PMF program?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you sure the job really has promotion potential to the 13? Double check your PD and the announcement (or your application in USAJOBS). If this was truly an error when you were hired, they need to fix it.

I am a PMF and I did not apply through USAjobs. The PMF program is 3 years and is supposed to go GS9 the first year, then GS11, then GS12. My understanding is only PHDs end the PMF with a 13. What my supervisor told me, over and over and over again, was that my job has promotion potential to GS 13. Everyone else in my team and everyone else who has been in my team is a GS 13. Where there were once 2 GS 13s and a GS14 team lead in my team, now there is just me, a GS12. It is not exactly fair.

I would like a new job... but there is not exactly a lot of hiring going on. Things just seem very dysfunctional and I guess it is just time for a career change and time to move on from government. I am 33 years old and half the agency seems like they're at the appropriate age to retire, but I can't really move up this way.