More Money, More Time Off Floated as Ways to Entice AI Workers to Become Feds
The federal government is rolling out new plans to attract workers with artificial intelligence (AI) skills. These plans include incentive compensation and workplace flexibility to entice AI skilled employees into the federal workforce. It is an effort to get the federal government to be an employer of choice in AI, as it faces fierce competition from the private sector.
The incentives and more were recently laid out in new guidance from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
The guidance gives a clear overview of the flexibilities and programs available to agencies to recruit and retain AI and related talent. OPM says the perks can be used for other positions of need within agencies as well and most of the workplace flexibilities can be extended without OPM approval.
Compensation Incentives
Much of the guidance revolves around increased financial compensation. Agencies can offer newly appointed employees in difficult to fill positions up to 25 percent of basic pay, multiplied by the number of years in the service agreement up to four years. Agencies can also offer employees who must relocate for difficult to fill positions the same benefits.
Highly qualified employees or employees filling a special agency need who are likely to “leave” federal service may receive up to 25 percent of basic pay for an individual or ten percent for a group.
Agencies can also set a new employee’s General Schedule (GS) pay above step one due to the “employee’s superior qualifications or the agency’s special need of the candidate’s services.”
Agencies may also repay federally insured student loans for an individual employee up to $10,000 each calendar year, up to a total of $60,000.
Lifestyle Benefits
Besides compensation, OPM broke down other workplace flexibilities that can be offered to AI employees.
On leave, OPM will allow leave accrued at non-federal positions to be transferred into the federal government’s annual leave program in certain cases. OPM will also allow the accrual of leave at a faster rate.
OPM also reminds agencies to allow flexibility with telework and remote work, as well as alternative work schedules.
“Remote work can allow agencies to recruit and retain high-quality talent from geographically dispersed labor markets, reduce costs associated with real estate, and optimize performance and productivity,” said OPM.
