FedHR ToolsGS ↔ FWS action type
One situation only. This tool decides whether an ordinary permanent move between the General Schedule and the Federal Wage System, within the same agency and without grade or pay retention, is a promotion, reassignment or change to lower grade under OPM’s Chapter 14 decision table. It is not a general action-type finder: moves within GS, moves within FWS, transfers, temporary moves, details and retention cases need their own review.
Coverage, sources & how the action is determined
For ordinary permanent moves within the same agency. This identifies the action family; it does not select an SF-50 nature-of-action code, legal authority, competitive procedure or pay-retention entitlement. Grade retention can require a position-change action. Transfers, temporary moves, details, returns, RIF and reclassification require separate review.
GS → FWS: compare GS step 4 locality pay, divided by 2,087 and rounded to the nearest cent, with FWS step 2 hourly pay. Use the new official worksite for both representative rates. GS special rates and the employee’s actual step do not enter this test. A higher new representative rate is a promotion; equal is a reassignment; lower is a change to lower grade. A wage-area change may require a separate reassignment and pay-setting order comparison.
FWS → GS: set GS pay first, then compare that approved payable rate with FWS pay annualized using 2,087 hours. The tool preserves cents in the annualized comparison. Any increase is a promotion; equality is a reassignment; any decrease is a change to lower grade. Locality or applicable special rates enter the GS payable amount. Without an approved GS step, results remain conditional. The GS two-step formula does not apply.
Use the FWS comparison rate after any required geographic conversion. For a worksite change, complete that review before using the result; evaluate earned HPR separately in the MPR tool. This tool does not establish eligibility for a special wage schedule, HPR or retention. Regular appropriated-fund WG, WL and WS only; NAF, overseas, special and minimum-pay schedules require separate review.
- OPM Guide to Processing Personnel Actions, Chapter 14 — action definitions and grade-retention coding.
- OPM FWS pay-action examples — representative rates, geographic conversion and pay-setting order.
- 5 CFR 351.203 and 532.401 — representative-rate definitions.
- 5 CFR 210.102 — general action definitions.
- 5 CFR 531.221(d) — MPR from a non-GS rate; 536.303 — geographic conversion in retention cases.
The existing nightly updater checks GS, VA special-rate and FWS data separately. It checks rates and source changes; it does not automatically review changes to law or agency policy.
About this tool & source checks
Look up the positions. See whether the move is a promotion, reassignment or change to lower grade.
About GS and FWS moves
How is a GS to FWS move decided?
GS step 4 locality pay, divided by 2,087, is compared with FWS step 2 hourly pay at the new worksite. A higher new rate is a promotion, an equal rate is a reassignment, and a lower rate is a change to lower grade.
How is an FWS to GS move decided?
GS pay is set first. The approved GS payable rate is then compared with FWS pay annualized at 2,087 hours. Until a GS step is approved, the tool shows the outcome for every step as conditional.
What does this tool not cover?
Moves within GS, moves within FWS, transfers to another agency, temporary moves, details, reclassification and any grade or pay retention case. It gives the action family only, not the SF-50 code or legal authority.