Number: RL34463
Title: Federal White-Collar Pay: FY2009 Salary Adjustments
Authors: Barbara L. Schwemle, Analyst in American National Government 
Abstract: Federal white-collar employees are intended by law to receive an annual pay adjustment and a locality-based comparability payment, effective in January of each year, under Section 529 of P.L. 101-509, the Federal Employees Pay Comparability Act (FEPCA) of 1990. The law has never been implemented as originally enacted; annual and locality payments pursuant to the statute have been reduced each year. Federal white-collar employees received a 2.9% annual pay adjustment and a 1.0% locality-based comparability payment in January 2009. President George W. Bush authorized the average 3.9% pay adjustment in Executive Order 13483, issued on December 18, 2008. Although the annual adjustment and the locality payment are sometimes referred to as cost-of-living adjustments, neither is based on changes in the cost of living.
Pages: 17
Date: January 6, 2009