| What
options can you offer to attract candidates?
On occasion
you may have a situation where an applicant hesitates to accept
your offer of employment. You have various options to consider in
the area of incentives to attract your selectee to accept the position.
Below is a list of available options. You should discuss these options
with your HR specialist who can provide details on use of these
incentives.
-
Travel expenses for pre-employment interviews
- Demo
cash bonus
- Demo
payment for travel and transportation
- Recruitment
bonus
- Travel
and transportation for new hires
- Superior
qualifications—higher than minimum pay
- Relocation
bonus
- Payment
of relocation expenses
- Retention
allowance
- Student
loan repayment program
The link below
is a quick reference chart that addresses "What, Who, When, and
How Much You Can Pay" when using the recruitment incentive options
listed above.
FEPCA
and ARS Demonstration Project Incentives
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What
are some considerations to think about when deciding to use recruitment
incentives?
Ask yourself:
- What is the
likelihood of finding an acceptable candidate without paying an
incentive —
- By
recruiting in the local commuting area?
- By recruiting
nationwide?
- Will your
future research objective be fulfilled without additional staff?
- How attractive
is the ARS duty station?
- Is
it remote?
- In a high
cost-of living area?
- Comfortable
climate?
- What are
the working conditions in your office?
- Does the
candidate have unique qualifications? What will this person's
qualifications bring to the job that will make him or her stand
out from the other candidates?
- For research
positions, does the candidate have proven research accomplishments?
- What is the
candidate's current salary?
- What
salaries are being offered for like positions in industry, private
research firms, etc?
- Does the
candidate have competing offers? If so, how much? (You may ask
candidates for copies of their competing offers.)
- What effect
will an incentive have on the conduct or morale of current employees?
- How
much will current employees resent incentives paid to new employees?
- Are current
employees recognized and rewarded appropriately?
What
forms do you need to complete?
Documentation
is required when offering recruitment incentives. Work closely with
your HR specialist and location/area staff to ensure proper use
of the following forms.
Who approves use of recruitment
incentives?
Incentives come
from your budget. You must consider the appropriateness of the incentive,
the distribution, and the effect on staff morale. The levels of
approval are as follows:
- Immediate
supervisor
- Research
Leader
- Institute/Center
Director
- Area Director
- Area Budget
and Fiscal officer
- HRD (Superior
Qualifications only)
Note: Check
with your Area Office for specific procedures that might require
other staff offices (AO/LAO, etc.) to review recruitment incentive
requests.
What
else can attract candidates?
The Federal
benefits package is one item that we as Federal employers need to
highlight for potential candidates. ARS also provides various family
friendly programs to help employees balance their work and home
life.
Federal benefits
include:
- Annual and
sick leave
- Federal Employees
Retirement System
- Basic
retirement
- Social
Security
- Thrift
Savings Plan (TSP)
- Federal Employees
Health Benefits (FEHB)
- Federal Employees
Group Life Insurance (FEGLI)
- Long-Term
Care Insurance
- 10 Paid Holidays
each year
Family friendly
programs include:
- Flexible
work and leave schedules
- Voluntary
Leave Transfer Program
- Telecommuting
Program (where applicable)
- Employee
Assistance Programs
- Training
and Career Enhancement Opportunities
- Transit
Subsidies (where applicable)
- Child
care centers (at some locations)
- Credit
unions (at some locations)
Additional
resources
Federal
Student Loan Repayment Program
P&P 412.5,
Recruitment
and Retention Incentives and Other Special Pay
Chart
Highlighting FEPCA and ARS Demonstration Project Incentives
Human
Resources Division, Pay & Leave Information
REE Policy and
Procedure, Flexible
Work Schedules, P&P 402.1
REE Policy and
Procedure, Flexible
Workplace Arrangements, P&P 402.5
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