USDA recently granted the Forest Service an exception to policy to allow non-monetary awards for Length of Service recognition. This is a change in guidance from our May 6, 2022, HRM Update on non-monetary awards and Length of Service recognition. This change only applies to LOS recognition. The general information previously shared on non-monetary awards is still applicable. This update also ends the temporary moratorium on providing non-monetary awards for LOS and applies to all Forest Service employees. Units should establish their own process for Length of Service recognition program and use the following guidelines along with any collective bargaining agreements and memorandums of understandings in place:

• Non-monetary awards for LOS may be presented starting with 5 years of service at 5-year intervals along with a certificate and a lapel pin or commemorative challenge coin
• Employees receive credit for all federal service including civilian and all honorable military service credited to their Service Computation Date for leave
• Non-monetary awards should meet the following criteria:
  • The award must be something the recipient could reasonably be expected to value in a symbolic context, but not something that conveys a sense of monetary value.
  • The award must have lasting trophy value (i.e., it is something the employee may wish to show to coworkers, friends or family members). An item that does not have a lasting form is not appropriate as a Length of Service Award because it loses its enduring symbolic value.
  • The item must clearly symbolize the employer-employee relationship in some fashion. Affixing, imprinting or engraving the Forest Service logo on an award item is a way to meet this criterion, but putting a logo on an item that otherwise has no connection to the employee's work (e.g., a tennis racket) would not meet this criterion.

The following award amounts should be followed when providing non-monetary awards for LOS:

Retroactive Awards

• Employees who normally would have received a non-monetary award for LOS during the moratorium period from May 13, 2021, through May 6, 2022, and in accordance with the above guidelines will have up to one year from the date of this notification to request from their supervisor, in writing, their retroactive LOS Award.
• Upon receiving the request, the employee’s supervisor will provide the appropriate LOS Award option to those employees within 90 days. 
• Managers/supervisors at the appropriate level may, at their discretion, issue retroactive non-monetary awards for LOS to qualifying employees without waiting for employee requests.

Where to Purchase

• Certificates: Use the Government Printing Office. You must have a GPO deposit account or a government credit purchase card. 
• Pins, coins, charms and more: Visit the Western Heritage webpage.

More Information

For information about awards, including monetary, non-monetary, Quality Step Increases and more, visit the HRM Awards webpage.

Help is available

Open an HR Help case:

1. Call: 1-877-372-7248, Press 2
2. Email: hrm_contact_center@usda.gov
3. Self-Service: ConnectHR > HR Help link

For detailed instructions, visit the HR Help How-to Add a Case Guide.