Food Safety and Inspection Service Onboarding Manual FINAL 1 Welcome to USDA! Congratulations on your new employment with USDA. Since 1862, the public servants of USDA have worked diligently to improve the lives of millions of our fellow Americans. Because the work we do affects every American and meat and poultry exporting country throughout the world, every single day, we are known as the “People’s Department,” as per President Lincoln's message to Congress two and a half years after he established the Department. And now, you are part of this proud history of public service and the important work we do. Welcome to USDA. 2 Overview of USDA ......................................................................................................................................... 6 Cultural Transformation in USDA .................................................................................................................. 7 USDA Organization Chart .............................................................................................................................. 8 USDA Offices ................................................................................................................................................. 9 USDA Agencies ............................................................................................................................................ 12 Overview of FSIS ......................................................................................................................................... 15 Our Mission .................................................................................................................................... 15 Our Authority ................................................................................................................................. 15 Our History ..................................................................................................................................... 15 Who We Are Now .......................................................................................................................... 15 Modernization ............................................................................................................................... 16 FSIS Organization Chart............................................................................................................................... 18 FSIS Program Areas ..................................................................................................................................... 19 Federal Employment ................................................................................................................................... 26 USDA Identification Credential/LincPass ....................................................................................... 26 Background Investigations ............................................................................................................. 26 Position Classification .................................................................................................................... 26 Position Description ....................................................................................................................... 27 Work Schedules ............................................................................................................................. 27 Pay and Leave ............................................................................................................................................. 28 General Schedule ........................................................................................................................... 28 Wage Grade ................................................................................................................................... 28 Overtime ........................................................................................................................................ 28 Annual Leave .................................................................................................................................. 28 Sick Leave ....................................................................................................................................... 29 Holidays .......................................................................................................................................... 30 Uncontrollable Office Closures ...................................................................................................... 30 Requesting Leave ........................................................................................................................... 31 Employee Benefits ...................................................................................................................................... 32 Premium Conversion...................................................................................................................... 32 Health Insurance ............................................................................................................................ 32 Federal Employees Group Life Insurance ...................................................................................... 32 3 The Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program ..................................................... 33 Federal Flexible Spending Account Program ................................................................................. 33 Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program ................................................................................. 34 Retirement ..................................................................................................................................... 34 Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) ................................................................................................................. 35 Designating Beneficiaries for your Federal Benefits ...................................................................... 35 Employee Programs and Services ............................................................................................................... 37 Telework ........................................................................................................................................ 37 Work Life Wellness (WLW) ............................................................................................................ 37 Employee Assistance Program (EAP) ............................................................................................. 37 The Work Number For Everyone ................................................................................................... 38 Pre-Tax Parking .............................................................................................................................. 38 Transit Incentive Program .............................................................................................................. 38 Forum Available to Employees ................................................................................................................... 40 Equal Employment Opportunity Program ..................................................................................... 40 Alternative Dispute Resolution ...................................................................................................... 40 Merit System Principles ................................................................................................................. 41 Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act ................................................ 41 Office of Special Counsel................................................................................................................ 41 Merit Systems Protection Board .................................................................................................... 41 Employee Development .............................................................................................................................. 42 Performance Standards ................................................................................................................. 42 Individual Development Plan ......................................................................................................... 42 FSIS Leadership Competency Model .............................................................................................. 42 Promotions and Transfers .............................................................................................................. 42 AgLearn .......................................................................................................................................... 43 Mandatory Training ....................................................................................................................... 43 Mentoring Program ....................................................................................................................... 44 Employee Recognition Program .................................................................................................... 44 Web-Based Tools ........................................................................................................................................ 46 E-Authentication ...........................................................................................................................