Federal Managers Association

In the News

• OPM Addresses What Is and Isn’t Still Negotiable on Performance Ratings - July 28, 2026

• FEDweek

  An OPM memo on carrying out new policies on performance ratings for federal employees below the senior ranks (see related story) specifies what is now negotiable – or not – between an agency and union. It shows the agency further protecting the substance of performance ratings system from union modification.

  Proposals that now are “outside the duty to bargain” are those:

  • authorizing grievances over ratings of record under negotiated grievance procedures;
  • to use summary level patterns that include a Level 2 rating or in which Level 4 is the highest level;
  • to use Pattern A (pass/fail) for employees other than seasonal employees, teachers, general schedule grades 1–4, and federal wage system employees;
  • that would prohibit, override, or modify any standardized distribution of rating levels established by OPM;
  • that would prohibit comparing, categorizing, or ranking employees or groups for purposes of assigning a summary level;
  • that would exclude the required supervisory critical element from covered supervisors’ performance plans.

  To read the full article, click here.

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