6 C.F.R. §§ 158.630–158.634

DHS-CS employees. In alignment with the compensation strategy in § 158.601 and the performance management program described in § 158.802 of this part, the Department may provide recognition under §§ 158.631 through 158.634, on a periodic or ad hoc basis, to a DHS-CS employee based on the employee's mission impact. In providing such recognition, the Department may also consider mission-related requirements and strategic talent priorities.

Prospective employees. In alignment with the compensation strategy in § 158.601, the Department may offer, and provide upon appointment, recognition payments under § 158.632(b) and recognition time-off under § 158.633(b), on a periodic or ad hoc basis, to an individual selected for employment in the DHS-CS based on:

Eligibility. The Department determines eligibility for recognition under this section, §§ 158.631 through 158.634, and CTMS policy implementing this section. The Department may defer providing recognition to a DHS-CS employee under this part if the Department is in the process of determining whether the employee's performance is unacceptable, as defined in 5 U.S.C. 4301(3), or whether the employee has engaged in misconduct. If the Department determines a DHS-CS employee's performance is unacceptable, as defined in 5 U.S.C. 4301(3), or the employee receives an unacceptable rating of record under § 158.804, or the Department determines the employee has engaged in misconduct, the employee is ineligible to receive recognition under this part.

Policy. CTMS policy implementing this section addresses:

Advisory appointees. Recognition under this part for a DHS-CS advisory appointee is subject to additional requirements and restrictions in subpart J of this part.

Under this section and § 158.630, the Department may provide a recognition adjustment to a DHS-CS employee for the reasons and bases stated in § 158.630(a). A recognition adjustment is an adjustment to the DHS-CS employee's salary provided under a salary structure described in § 158.611. A recognition adjustment does not alter any local cybersecurity talent market supplement for that employee.

No DHS-CS employee may receive a recognition adjustment that would cause the employee's salary to exceed the salary range maximum described in § 158.613(d) or the applicable salary limitation assigned to the subrange of a salary structure as described in § 158.611(d) that contains the employee's salary. A DHS-CS employee may not receive a recognition adjustment that would cause the employee's salary amount to be in the extended range, described in § 158.613(c), unless the Secretary or designee invokes the extended range for that employee under § 158.613(c)(1).

A recognition adjustment under this section is not a promotion for any purpose under Title 5 U.S.C. or 5 CFR.

A recognition adjustment under this section for a DHS-CS advisory appointee is subject to additional requirements and restrictions in subpart J of this part.

Under this section and § 158.630, and for the reasons and bases stated in § 158.630(a), the Department may provide a recognition payment to a DHS-CS employee in an amount of up to 20 percent, or up to 50 percent with approval of the Secretary or designee, of the receiving DHS-CS employee's salary. The Department may require a service agreement of not less than six months and not more than three years as part of providing a recognition payment to a DHS-CS employee.

Under this section and § 158.630, and for the reasons and bases stated in § 158.630(b) and as part of an offer of employment in the DHS-CS, the Department may offer a recognition payment to an individual selected for employment in the DHS-CS in an amount of up to 20 percent of the receiving individual's initial salary in the DHS-CS. The Department requires a service agreement of not less than six months and not more than three years as part of providing, upon appointment, a recognition payment to an individual selected for employment in the DHS-CS.

The Department may provide a recognition payment as a lump sum payment, an installment payment, or a recurring payment.

The Department may provide a recognition payment under this section to a former DHS-CS employee or to the legal heirs or estate of a former DHS-CS employee in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 4505.

Acceptance of a recognition payment constitutes agreement for Federal Government use of any idea, method, device, or similar that is the basis of the payment.

A recognition payment under this section is subject to and may be limited by the aggregate compensation limit described in § 158.604.

A recognition payment is not salary under this part and is not basic pay for any purpose under 5 U.S.C. or 5 CFR.

A recognition payment under this section is based on the following types of awards and incentives provided under 5 U.S.C.:

A recognition payment under this section is in lieu of the types of awards and incentives provided under 5 U.S.C. listed in paragraph (h) of this section, and a DHS-CS employee is ineligible to receive any such awards or incentives.

An individual selected for employment in the DHS-CS is ineligible to receive, as part of the offer of employment, any other offer of a monetary award or incentive, a payment in addition to salary, or other monetary recognition from the Department except as provided in this section and § 158.630. An individual appointed to an advisory appointment is also ineligible to receive, as part of an offer of employment in the DHS-CS, any offer of recognition under this section.

A recognition payment under this section for a DHS-CS advisory appointee is subject to additional requirements and restrictions in subpart J of this part.

Under this section and § 158.630, and for the reasons and bases stated in § 158.630(a), the Department may provide recognition time-off to a DHS-CS employee for use within a designated timeframe not to exceed 26 work periods, as defined in § 158.705(c). Recognition time-off is time-off from duty without charge to leave or loss of compensation.

Under this section and § 158.630, and for the reasons and bases stated in § 158.630(b) and as part of an offer of employment in the DHS-CS, the Department may offer up to 40 hours of recognition time-off to an individual selected for employment in the DHS-CS for use within a designated timeframe not to exceed 26 work periods, as defined in § 158.705(b). The Department may require a service agreement as part of providing, upon appointment, recognition time-off to an individual selected for employment in the DHS-CS.

All recognition time-off provided, and the use of such time-off, must be recorded in a timekeeping system for purposes of salary administration and leave administration under this part.

Recognition time-off provided under this section may not, under any circumstances, be converted to a cash payment to the receiving DHS-CS employee or any other type of time-off or leave.

Recognition time-off under this section is based on time-off awards provided under the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 4502(e).

Recognition time-off under this section is in lieu of the time-off awards provided under 5 U.S.C. 4502(e), and a DHS-CS employee is ineligible to receive any such awards.

An individual selected for employment in the DHS-CS is ineligible to receive, as part of the offer of employment, any other offer of time-off or time-off award from the Department except as provided in this section and §§ 158.630 and 158.651. An individual appointed to an advisory appointment is also ineligible to receive, as part of an offer of employment in the DHS-CS, any offer of recognition under this section.

A recognition time-off provided under this section to a DHS-CS advisory appointee is subject to additional requirements and restrictions in subpart J of this part.

Under this section and § 158.630, the Department may establish one or more honorary recognition programs to provide honorary recognition to DHS-CS employees for the reasons and bases stated in § 158.630(a). The Department may incur necessary expenses for honorary recognition under an honorary recognition program established under this section.

Honorary recognition under this section is based on honorary recognition provided under the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 4503, and a DHS-CS employee may be eligible to receive honorary recognition under 5 U.S.C. 4503 and 5 CFR part 451 in addition to any honorary recognition under this section.

The Department may provide honorary recognition under this section to a former DHS-CS employee or to the legal heirs or estate of a former DHS-CS employee in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 4505.

Honorary recognition under this section for a DHS-CS advisory appointee is subject to additional requirements in subpart J of this part.