NASA LaRC Internal Memo: Buyout Approved, Window Open Monday, November 7
To: (All Civil Service Employees at Langley Research Center)
From: “Leah M. Meisel, Director, Office of Human Capital Management” l.m.meisel@larc.nasa.gov
Subject: BUYOUT APPROVED; WINDOW OPEN MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7
Date: Fri, 4 Nov 2005
SUBJECT: BUYOUT APPROVED; WINDOW OPEN MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7
As you may know, the Agency has offered Centers the opportunity to participate in a buyout this fiscal year. Langley submitted its plan last month, and I am happy to report that we have received final approval to offer the buyout at the Center.
Since this is an Agency-led buyout, participating Centers are required to adhere to the policies and deadlines established by HQ. As a result, this buyout will be different than the opportunities offered last year.
The buyout application window will open on Monday, November 7 and close on Monday, November 28. Buyout separations must occur on or before January 3, 2006. Extensions beyond this date will be rare, must be mission-related, and require HQ approval. Extension memos must be submitted from the Organizational Unit Manager (OUM) and submitted with the buyout application before the November 28 deadline. The Office of Human Capital Management (OHCM) will forward the requests to the Center Director for approval. Unlike prior buyouts, extension requests will then be forwarded to the Chief Human Capital Officer at NASA HQ for final approval. Per Agency policy, no buyout separations will be permitted after March 31, 2006.
Voluntary early retirement authority is available with this buyout, but, unlike previous buyouts, it will only be available during the buyout window. Therefore, our “early-out” authority will expire on January 3, 2006. OHCM has created a Web site for the buyout at http://ohr-r.larc.nasa.gov/buyout/. The site contains the buyout application, list of workforce competencies included in the buyout pool, a buyout timeline, and links to retirement estimate calculators and retirement forms.
While the buyout plan designated specific workforce competencies in the buyout pool, we have the ability to reassign employees within the Center to fill vacancies. Therefore, any employee who is interested in applying for the buyout should do so. All buyout applications will be reviewed and considered, but an OUM may disapprove a buyout in cases where the separation would adversely impact the program, project, or mission.
I am strongly encouraging anyone who has thought about participating in a buyout to take advantage of this opportunity. We have been told by HQ that there will not be another buyout opportunity offered this year. Also, many of you have hoped for enhanced buyout amounts or elimination of “early-out” penalties. I do not anticipate either to occur in the near future.
If you are interested or would like additional information, please visit the OHCM web site referenced above or call your Human Resources Specialist.
Leah M. Meisel
Director, Office of Human Capital Management
