OP here. Thanks for the input. Federal hiring is certainly a unique process compared to private sector!

From you? No, not in my experience. My agency is small and selective; it's Step 1, take it or leave it. Recently had a hire try to negotiate, so HR came back to me and told me what they wanted (which was around a higher step to match their current salary). If we could/wanted to match, then I (as the hiring manager) would have written a justification. But I didn't need it from the candidate. Other agencies might do it differently.

Anonymous wrote:Have any of you had this experience?

HR from a Federal Agency called me and just offered at a Step 1. I told her that I wanted to negotiate for a higher step in the grade. I expected her to ask for an e-mail or something to document my request. But, she told me that she didn't need it and would talk to the hiring manager. Is this normal? I thought she would want something in writing.

She may still ask. I did the same; HR took my request to the manager, who asked for written proof of my pre-government salary, which I provided. They bumped me to a step 2. It didn't really matter as I was taking such a huge pay cut that the step differences were minor, but it was the principle of the thing.

Have any of you had this experience?

HR from a Federal Agency called me and just offered at a Step 1. I told her that I wanted to negotiate for a higher step in the grade. I expected her to ask for an e-mail or something to document my request. But, she told me that she didn't need it and would talk to the hiring manager. Is this normal? I thought she would want something in writing.