With federal jobs, if you resign and are eligible for reinstatement, do they have to take you back?

Question

Left a Federal job years ago and am thinking about going back. Just wondering how hard reinstatement is and if a person can go back to any job they're qualified for. Also, if reinstated, do you come back in at the same pay grade/step and do you get your sick leave back?

Answer 1

NO, the don't have to take you back.  If you have a skill they need though... KSA's are everything with the Government... then they probably WILL take you back.

My Wife resigned from the Gov. after working for them 11 years... she had a clean record... had been the 'employee of the month' a couple of times and left on extremely good relations.  We took the boat cruising for a couple of years and when her Agency opened a branch near where were had the boat, she applied for a job and was immediatley hired back.

It all depends on WHAT you can DO... WHO you know... and how good the terms were when you left Government service...  

Answer 2

It's not reinstatement.  You have to re-apply for a job.  If you get a job, you might be able to get them to credit your previous service, to qualify for retirement benefits.  But they are under no obligation to give you back the same grade, let alone the same work assignment.