Retroactive Quality Step Increase

A State Program Director for Kansas was recommended for a quality step increase (QSI), but the recommendation was erroneously filed in his personnel folder without being signed by the approving official. About 10 months later the error was discovered, whereupon the QSI was properly documented and granted. The agency thought that the delay constituted an unjustified or unwarranted personnel action and proposed that the QSI be made effective to the date that the award would have been effective but for the delay. GAO held that there was no basis for granting retroactive effect. There appeared to be no agency regulation which would have required that the employee be awarded a QSI without the approval of the agency officials; therefore, the delay did not constitute an unjustified or unwarranted personnel action.