Incentives

Our employees take their jobs very seriously, because they know the public is counting on them. As an employee of one of the largest public health regulatory agencies in the U.S. Government, you too can have the satisfaction of protecting the public.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service invites you to consider employment with us. We have a job worth doing!

Incentives, Recruitment and Retention Flexibilities

Personal initiative, job performance, and to some extent geographic mobility will determine how quickly and how far you progress.
In some locations we offer a recruitment bonus and may pay some of the moving expenses to your first duty station.
Employees competitively selected for promotion are often eligible for a government-paid move should geographic relocation be necessary.
In some areas of the country, we offer transit subsidies for those who use public transportation to and from work.
FSIS is a qualifying employer of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF Program).
We actively support and promote family-friendly workplace alternatives to include less than full-time work schedules in some locations, as well as an Employee Assistance Program to assist employees with family and work issues.

This information applies to FSIS Office of Field Operations (OFO) in-plant Veterinary Medical Officers (VMO), Food Inspectors (FI) and Consumer Safety Inspectors (CSI).

As of October 1, 2019

*NOTE: Currently, there is a blanket recruitment incentive for in-plant VMOs. Use of recruitment and other incentives is based on agency need and budgetary availability, and they are offered on a case-by-case basis. Incentives are currently under review to determine use of additional flexibilities.

OPTION	DESCRIPTION
Recruitment Incentives Used to attract new hires to positions difficult to fill without an incentive. Covers newly-appointed and former employees with at least a 90-day break in service.	Multiple-year incentive offered to Veterinary Medical Officers (VMO's). This incentive is currently being offered to all newly-appointed VMO’s. The first payout is at the end of the first year of service. Year 1: $5,000 Year 2: $5,000 Year 3: $5,000 Year 4: $5,000 SERVICE AGREEMENT: There is a 4-year service agreement required for this incentive. Newly appointed Food Inspectors and Consumer Safety Inspectors are offered a $5,000 recruitment incentive which is paid within a few pay periods of entrance on duty. SERVICE AGREEMENT: There is a 2-year service agreement required for this incentive.
Relocation Incentives Used to entice current employees who are not in a difficult-to-staff location to accept a position in a difficult-to-staff location that requires relocation to a different geographic area (i.e., more than 50 miles from their current duty location).	This type of incentive is an option that may be offered on a case-by-case basis to those who relocate from a not difficult-to-staff location to a difficult-to-staff location. Bonuses of up to 25% of base pay. Employee must establish residence in the new geographic area.
Relocation Expenses Paid moving expenses in conjunction with relocation incentives. Refer to: FSIS Directive 3820.1 Rev 4, Relocation Allowances	Moving expenses may be paid to Veterinary Medical Officers who relocate from a not difficult-to-staff location to a difficult-to-staff location. Move is in the best interest of the government. SERVICE AGREEMENT: 1 year; must remain employed by Federal government
Retention Incentives Used to retain employees who perform work satisfying a special and critical need, or have very high or unique qualifications, and are likely to leave federal service (e.g., private sector job offer or retirement) in the absence of the incentive. To be eligible, the employee must have 1 year of continuous service with FSIS and a performance rating of at least “fully successful.”	One-year incentive of up to 25% of basic pay offered on a case-by-case basis. A retention incentive may be paid in installments after completion of specified periods of service or in a lump sum after completion of the service period. SERVICE AGREEMENT: A service agreement is required unless the retention incentive payments are made each pay period. FSIS has a specific retention incentive program for in-plant Veterinary Medical Officers; see position specific incentive page for details.
Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP) A recruitment flexibility based on the difficulty experienced or expected in filling a job (e.g., shortage location); the difficulty in recruiting individuals with high or unique qualifications; or a special need of FSIS (e.g., critical mission function, specialized knowledge or qualifications needed by the agency). A retention flexibility for employees who are likely to leave FSIS for employment outside the federal government when the employee’s departure would affect FSIS’ ability to carry out an activity or perform a function that is deemed essential to the agency mission.	Payments may be offered through the Student Loan Repayment Program for current in-plant Veterinary Medical Officers. Case-by-case student loan repayment may be offered for other positions meeting criteria, contingent on funding and the approval process. SERVICE AGREEMENT: 3 years
Retention – Other	Financial Assistance for Continuing Education In Fiscal Year (FY) 2023, we increased the reimbursement amount of the PHV Continuing Education Reimbursement program to all veterinarians across the Agency from $500/FY to $1,000/FY.
Creditable Service for Annual Leave Accrual (CSALA)	For those with related, creditable and eligible uniformed or non-Federal service, credit toward annual leave accrual may be given for prior work experience that otherwise would not be creditable. A one-year period of continuous service is required to retain service credit obtained under this flexibility.
Referral Bonus Award	Referral bonus awards of up to $1,000 may be given to employees who successfully refer an applicant who later becomes a successful employee. This incentive is for current employees who are able to refer other applicants by “word of mouth” to FSIS (some restrictions apply). Referral bonus awards will be listed on vacancy announcements when authorized for use.
Accelerated Promotions	Accelerated promotions are available to a limited number of new hires in mission-critical occupations. Veterinary Medical Officers hired at the GS-11 level may be non-competitively promoted to the GS-12 level in as little as 6 months. Consumer Safety Inspectors and Food Inspectors, in a limited number of locations, may be eligible for a promotion in as little as 6 months.

OPTION

DESCRIPTION

Recruitment Incentives

Used to attract new hires to positions difficult to fill without an incentive.

Covers newly-appointed and former employees with at least a 90-day break in service.

Multiple-year incentive offered to Veterinary Medical Officers (VMO's). This incentive is currently being offered to all newly-appointed VMO’s. The first payout is at the end of the first year of service.
- Year 1: $5,000
- Year 2: $5,000
- Year 3: $5,000
- Year 4: $5,000
SERVICE AGREEMENT: There is a 4-year service agreement required for this incentive.
Newly appointed Food Inspectors and Consumer Safety Inspectors are offered a $5,000 recruitment incentive which is paid within a few pay periods of entrance on duty.
SERVICE AGREEMENT: There is a 2-year service agreement required for this incentive.

Relocation Incentives

Used to entice current employees who are not in a difficult-to-staff location to accept a position in a difficult-to-staff location that requires relocation to a different geographic area (i.e., more than 50 miles from their current duty location).

This type of incentive is an option that may be offered on a case-by-case basis to those who relocate from a not difficult-to-staff location to a difficult-to-staff location.

Bonuses of up to 25% of base pay.

Employee must establish residence in the new geographic area.

Relocation Expenses

Paid moving expenses in conjunction with relocation incentives.

Refer to:

FSIS Directive 3820.1 Rev 4, Relocation Allowances

Moving expenses may be paid to Veterinary Medical Officers who relocate from a not difficult-to-staff location to a difficult-to-staff location. Move is in the best interest of the government.

SERVICE AGREEMENT: 1 year; must remain employed by Federal government

Retention Incentives

Used to retain employees who perform work satisfying a special and critical need, or have very high or unique qualifications, and are likely to leave federal service (e.g., private sector job offer or retirement) in the absence of the incentive.

To be eligible, the employee must have 1 year of continuous service with FSIS and a performance rating of at least “fully successful.”

One-year incentive of up to 25% of basic pay offered on a case-by-case basis.

A retention incentive may be paid in installments after completion of specified periods of service or in a lump sum after completion of the service period.

SERVICE AGREEMENT: A service agreement is required unless the retention incentive payments are made each pay period.
FSIS has a specific retention incentive program for in-plant Veterinary Medical Officers; see position specific incentive page for details.

Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP)

A recruitment flexibility based on the difficulty experienced or expected in filling a job (e.g., shortage location); the difficulty in recruiting individuals with high or unique qualifications; or a special need of FSIS (e.g., critical mission function, specialized knowledge or qualifications needed by the agency).

A retention flexibility for employees who are likely to leave FSIS for employment outside the federal government when the employee’s departure would affect FSIS’ ability to carry out an activity or perform a function that is deemed essential to the agency mission.

Payments may be offered through the Student Loan Repayment Program for current in-plant Veterinary Medical Officers.
Case-by-case student loan repayment may be offered for other positions meeting criteria, contingent on funding and the approval process.

SERVICE AGREEMENT: 3 years

Retention – Other

Financial Assistance for Continuing Education
In Fiscal Year (FY) 2023, we increased the reimbursement amount of the PHV Continuing Education Reimbursement program to all veterinarians across the Agency from $500/FY to $1,000/FY.

Creditable Service for Annual Leave Accrual (CSALA)

For those with related, creditable and eligible uniformed or non-Federal service, credit toward annual leave accrual may be given for prior work experience that otherwise would not be creditable.

A one-year period of continuous service is required to retain service credit obtained under this flexibility.

Referral Bonus Award

Referral bonus awards of up to $1,000 may be given to employees who successfully refer an applicant who later becomes a successful employee. This incentive is for current employees who are able to refer other applicants by “word of mouth” to FSIS (some restrictions apply). Referral bonus awards will be listed on vacancy announcements when authorized for use.

Accelerated Promotions

Accelerated promotions are available to a limited number of new hires in mission-critical occupations.
- Veterinary Medical Officers hired at the GS-11 level may be non-competitively promoted to the GS-12 level in as little as 6 months.
- Consumer Safety Inspectors and Food Inspectors, in a limited number of locations, may be eligible for a promotion in as little as 6 months.