OPM to appointees: Time to start packing

If you're not a career civil servant, it's time to start packing your bags and thinking about getting new health insurance, according to a new handbook on the upcoming presidential transition published by the Office of Personnel Management.

The guide, "Transition to a New Presidential Administration," was created to answer questions that presidential appointees, noncareer members of the Senior Executive Service and Schedule C employees have at the beginning of the end of their time in government.

It is customary for such employees to resign at the request of the incoming administration, OPM said. However, agencies can terminate noncareer senior executive appointees at any time with a one-day notice. Schedule C appointees, typically employees who serve in a confidential role to a key appointed official, can be separated at any time once the key official leaves.

If that happens, OPM says agencies should at least be polite about it. OPM recommends that letters of termination for such appointees say, "This action should not be construed in any way as a reflection on you personally or on your performance under the prior leadership."

Polite or not, the government doesn't pay for appointees' moving expenses. General Services Administration travel policy does not permit payment for relocation services for separating noncareer employees. But those who are leaving are eligible for unemployment compensation. It's a good idea to make it clear to unemployment offices that the reason for your separation was a change in administration, OPM advised.

The guide deals with the nitty-gritty of leaving government, particularly how to deal with pay and benefits issues. For example, appointees can receive group health and life insurance at no cost for 31 days, and can covered for longer time periods under certain circumstances. The guide also outlines Thrift Savings Plan withdrawal options.

The guide also reminds senior Clinton administration appointees that they signed a pledge prohibiting them from lobbying any employee of their former agency for five years after separation. The anti-lobbying clause is extended to any agency for which the senior appointee had "personal and substantial" responsibility.

For those just joining the Washington crowd, OPM outlines basic information about federal benefits coverage, retirement and the Senior Executive Service.

And for those hoping to stay, OPM said it will be on the lookout for "burrowers"-political appointees who attempt to convert to career jobs shortly before a presidential election in an attempt to remain in the executive branch.

OPM's guide is available online at: http://www.opm.gov/transition/index.htm