Job Terminology Glossary

Name (Sorted descending) Term Description
Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS)

It is a retirement plan that provides benefits from three different sources:  A Basic Benefit Plan, Social Security, and the Thrift Savings Plan. This retirement system began in 1987. (NIH Retirement5 USC 84 and 5 CFR 841.103)

Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA)

The independent agency responsible for administering the Federal labor relations program. The FLRA decides, among other things, representation issues (e.g., the bargaining unit status of certain employees), unfair labor practices (ULPs) (violations of Federal labor law), negotiability disputes (i.e., scope of bargaining issues), and exceptions to arbitration awards. The General Counsel of the FLRA processes representation issues (investigates, conducts hearings, holds elections, issues unit certifications, etc.) and investigates, conducts hearings, holds elections, issues unit certifications, etc., and investigates, resolves, settles and prosecutes ULPs. (FLRA)

Flexible Work Schedule

A type of work schedule that allows an employee to determine his or her own schedule within the limits set by the agency. (OPM Pay & LeaveNIH Work Schedules, and 5 USC 6122)

Full Performance Level (FPL)

The highest rank, grade or known promotion potential of a given position. The full performance level is the target grade of a position with an established career ladder or training program, which was otherwise filled at a grade below the full performance level grade of the position. (OPM Introduction to the Position Classification Standards p. (8-9)OPM GPPA Ch 14 p (14-48) and NIH Policy Manual)

Full-Time Employees

Most full-time employees are scheduled to work 40 hours a week, 80 hours a pay period. Some have tours of more than 80 hours per pay period. (OPM GPPA Ch 35 p (35-5))