5 CFR § 531.504 - Level of performance required for quality step increase.
---identifier: "/us/cfr/t5/s531.504"source: "ecfr"legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"title: "5 CFR § 531.504 - Level of performance required for quality step increase."title_number: 5title_name: "Administrative Personnel"section_number: "531.504"section_name: "Level of performance required for quality step increase."chapter_name: "OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT"subchapter_number: "B"subchapter_name: "CIVIL SERVICE REGULATIONS"part_number: "531"part_name: "PAY UNDER THE GENERAL SCHEDULE"positive_law: falsecurrency: "2026-03-24"last_updated: "2026-03-24"format_version: "1.1.0"generator: "[email protected]"authority: "5 U.S.C. 5115, 5307, and 5338; sec. 4 of Public Law 103-89, 107 Stat. 981; and E.O. 12748, 56 FR 4521, 3 CFR, 1991 Comp., p. 316; Subpart B also issued under 5 U.S.C. 5303(g), 5305, 5333, 5334(a) and (b), and 7701(b)(2); Subpart D also issued under 5 U.S.C. 5335 and 7701(b)(2); Subpart E also issued under 5 U.S.C. 5336; Subpart F also issued under 5 U.S.C. 5304, 5305, and 5941(a); E.O. 12883, 58 FR 63281, 3 CFR, 1993 Comp., p. 682; and E.O. 13106, 63 FR 68151, 3 CFR, 1998 Comp., p. 224."cfr_part: "531"---
Identifier
/us/cfr/t5/s531.504
Currency
2026-03-24
Positive Law
No
Updated
2026-03-24
Chapter
Office of Personnel Management
Authority
5 U.S.C. 5115, 5307, and 5338; sec. 4 of Public Law 103-89, 107 Stat. 981; and E.O. 12748, 56 FR 4521, 3 CFR, 1991 Comp., p. 316; Subpart B also issued under 5 U.S.C. 5303(g), 5305, 5333, 5334(a) and ... 5 U.S.C. 5115, 5307, and 5338; sec. 4 of Public Law 103-89, 107 Stat. 981; and E.O. 12748, 56 FR 4521, 3 CFR, 1991 Comp., p. 316; Subpart B also issued under 5 U.S.C. 5303(g), 5305, 5333, 5334(a) and (b), and 7701(b)(2); Subpart D also issued under 5 U.S.C. 5335 and 7701(b)(2); Subpart E also issued under 5 U.S.C. 5336; Subpart F also issued under 5 U.S.C. 5304, 5305, and 5941(a); E.O. 12883, 58 FR 63281, 3 CFR, 1993 Comp., p. 682; and E.O. 13106, 63 FR 68151, 3 CFR, 1998 Comp., p. 224.
# 531.504 Level of performance required for quality step increase.A quality step increase shall not be required but may be granted only to—(a) An employee who receives a rating of record at Level 5 (“Outstanding” or equivalent), as defined in part 430, subpart B, of this chapter; or(b) An employee who, when covered by a performance appraisal program that does not use a Level 5 summary—(1) Receives a rating of record at the highest summary level used by the program; and(2) Demonstrates sustained performance of high quality significantly above that expected at the “Fully Successful” level in the type of position concerned, as determined under performance-related criteria established by the agency.[60 FR 43948, Aug. 23, 1995]