OFR Salary Structure
Unlike most civilian federal agencies, the OFR does not follow the General Schedule (GS) Pay Scale. The General Schedule has 15 grades — GS-1 to GS-15 — and the Senior Executive Service (SES). The OFR’s Compensation Program, the OR Pay Plan, consists of sixteen pay bands, OR-11 to OR-80 (see Base Pay table below). These pay bands cover positions from the entry-level to the senior executive. Employee compensation is based on the duties and responsibilities of the position, expertise, the increased contributions employees bring to their positions as they develop, and, finally, employee performance.
Geographic Differentials (Geo Pay)
Employees assigned to designated locations are eligible to receive a geographic pay differential in effect for that location. Geo pay is based on costs of labor and supplements employees' base salaries to provide locally competitive salaries.
Health, Life, and Disability Insurance Programs
The Office of Financial Research (OFR) offers a wide range of benefits – Federal Title V benefits, which are benefits that all federal employees are able to participate in, regardless of employing agency, as well as OFR specific benefits.
*Denotes OFR specific programs.
Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB)
The FEHB Program can help you and your family meet your health care needs. Federal employees, retirees and their survivors enjoy the widest selection of health plans in the country.
Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) Subsidy*
To help defray the cost of your annual healthcare premiums, the OFR contributes an additional amount per pay period toward employees’ FEHB premiums, which equals about 85 percent of the total average premium.
Federal Employee Dental/Vision Program (FEDVIP)
Under FEDVIP Dental and vision benefits are available to eligible Federal and Postal employees, retirees, and their eligible family members on an enrollee-pay-all basis. This Program allows dental insurance and vision insurance to be purchased on a group basis which means competitive premiums and no pre-existing condition limitations.
OFR Dental Care Insurance*
Employees and their families receive dental coverage at no cost and can choose between a traditional preferred provider organization (PPO) and a dental health maintenance organization (DHMO).
OFR Vision Care*
Employees and their families receive vision coverage at no cost. This plan covers the full cost of annual eye exams and the majority of expenses associated with eyeglass purchases if obtained from a participating provider.
Federal Flexible Spending Account Program (FSAFEDS)
FSAFEDS allows you to save money for health care expenses with a Health Care, Limited Expense Health Care or Dependent Care FSA. Each year employees are eligible to contribute any amount not to exceed the annual contribution limits set by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Pre-tax contributions are deducted on a bi-weekly basis and set aside to cover eligible healthcare and dependent care expenses.
OFR Annual Wellness Subsidy*
The OFR understands that a healthier workforce promotes a more productive one, which is why OFR offers a wellness subsidy to help cover the cost of activities that will contribute to each employee’s overall health and well-being.
Life and Disability Insurance Programs
Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance Program (FEGLI)
Federal employees automatically receive basic life insurance coverage approximately equal to their total annual salary, unless they waive coverage. The OFR pays about one-third of the cost. Employees may also purchase additional coverage.
OFR Group Life Insurance*
This insurance can be used as an alternative or a supplement to the Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance. Employees who elect the basic amount, approximately equal to their total annual salary, share the cost with the OFR. Additional coverage may also be purchased.
OFR Short-Term Disability (STD) Insurance*
Eligible employees may purchase STD insurance to provide income in the event of a disability resulting from a non-occupational injury or illness. After seven days of disability and after exhausting their sick leave, employees may receive 60 percent of their salary, on a weekly basis, for up to 90 days.
OFR Long-Term Disability (LTD) Insurance*
The OFR provides eligible employees with LTD insurance to protect against disability. After 90 continuous days of disability and after exhausting their sick leave, employees may receive 60 percent of their salary monthly. The program has a maximum benefit period and will be offset by other income sources, e.g. retirement benefits, workers’ compensation, and social security.
OFR Business Travel Accident (BTA) Insurance*
The OFR provides BTA insurance to employees, at no cost, to cover accidental death and dismemberment while traveling on OFR business. This coverage equals five times the employee’s total annual salary, up to $1,000,000.
OFR 24-hour Personal Accident Insurance*
Employees may purchase accidental death and dismemberment insurance to provide 24-hour protection, worldwide, for themselves and eligible family members.
Federal Long-Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP)
Employees may purchase this insurance for themselves and eligible family members, including common-law spouses and same-sex domestic partners, to provide financial relief should they require lengthy or lifelong assistance with the activities of daily living.
Workers’ Compensation Insurance
Employees are automatically covered by Workers’ Compensation Insurance, which pays medical expenses and provides compensation for employees who become disabled as a result of a work-related injury or illness.
Leave & Holidays
Annual and Sick Leave
Federal employees earn four, six, or eight hours of annual leave each pay period depending on their years of combined federal and creditable military service. They earn four hours of sick leave each pay period.
Birth, Adoption, and Foster Care Leave
Paid Parental Leave (PPL) is a benefit for new OFR parents who have worked for the Federal Government at least 12 months (they must have also worked a minimum of 1,250 hours during those 12 months and must sign a service agreement and provide supporting documentation). Eligible employees are entitled up to 12 workweeks of paid leave for the birth, adoption, or foster placement of a child in order to care for or bond with their new child (entitlement is pro-rated for part-time employees). Employees have up to 12 months from the date of birth, adoption, or foster placement of a child to use PPL.
Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA), most federal employees are entitled to up to 12 workweeks of unpaid leave during any 12-month period for a serious health condition, the birth or adoption of a child, or to care for a family member with a serious health condition.
Voluntary Leave Transfer Program (VLTP)
Under the Voluntary Leave Transfer Program (VLTP), a covered employee may donate annual leave only directly to another employee who has a personal or family medical emergency and who has exhausted his or her available paid leave. There is no limit on the amount of donated annual leave a leave recipient may receive from the leave donor(s). However, any unused donated leave must be returned to the leave donor(s) when the medical emergency ends.
Leave Without Pay (LWOP)
Leave without pay is a temporary status for federal employees that is a matter of supervisory discretion and may be limited by an agency's internal policies. Employees are entitled to leave without pay in some situations but it may affect their eligibility for certain federal benefits.
Holidays
Employees receive 11 paid holidays each year.
Work/Life Programs
Alternative Work Schedules
Instead of in a typical ten day bi-weekly schedule, employees may fulfill their 80-hour biweekly work requirement in eight or nine days, vary their daily arrival and departure times, and earn credit hours. Supervisor approval is required.
Telework
With supervisor approval, eligible employees may arrange to work from home when their work can be performed away from the office.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and Work Life 4 You
The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provides free confidential counseling and referral services that can help you deal with a family crisis, alcohol or drug abuse, legal problems, and/or financial issues.
Work Life 4 You - You've got a lot going on. Fortunately, you have access to WorkLife4You, an agency-paid benefit designed to help you and your dependents better manage your daily responsibilities and life events. Services include emergency dependent back up care, expert guidance from WorkLife specialists, personalized referrals to helpful resources nationwide, and online tools to help with:
- Child Care & Parenting
- Adult Care & Aging
- Education & Career Development
- Financial & Legal
- Health & Wellness
- Other Everyday Needs
Public Transportation Incentive Program (PTIP)
Program participants may receive a nontaxable transit subsidy each month, up to a legislated amount, to defray the costs of using public transportation for commuting to and from work.
Retirement & Savings Programs
The OFR offers many ways to save for retirement including federal retirement plans, federal Thrift Savings Plan and an agency 401(k) Plan.
*Denotes OFR specific benefit.
OFR 401(k) Plan*
Eligible employees can save and invest through a pretax account, and/or a Roth or non-Roth Voluntary After-Tax account. Employees receive a discretionary biweekly OFR contribution, which is a percentage of base pay. Eligible employees may contribute up to the annual Internal Revenue Service (IRS) limits. Employees age 50 or older may contribute an additional catch-up amount each year.
Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)
The TSP is a tax-deferred retirement savings and investment plan for federal employees. Employees in the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) receive an automatic annual OFR contribution of one percent of their adjusted base salary and can receive up to four percent of their adjusted base salary in matching contributions from the OFR each year.
Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS)
FERS is a three-part retirement plan consisting of a defined benefit from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), a tax-deferred retirement savings plan (TSP), and Social Security benefits. Most newly hired employees are automatically covered under FERS.
