Order of retention

§ 3502. Order of retention (a) The Civil Service Commission shall prescribe regulations for the release of competing employees in a reduction in force which give due effect to— (1) tenure of employment; (2) military preference, subject to section 3501(a)(3) of this title; (3) length of service; and (4) efficiency or performance ratings. In computing length of service, a competing employee— (A) who is not a retired member of a uniformed service is entitled to credit for the total length of time in active service in the armed forces; and (B) who is a retired member of a uniformed service is entitled to credit for— (i) the length of time in active service in the armed forces during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized; or (ii) the total length of time in active service in the armed forces if he is included under section 3501(a) (3) (A), (B), or (C) of this title. (b) A preference eligible employee whose efficiency or performance rating is “good” or “satisfactory” or better than “good” or “satisfactory” is entitled to be retained in preference to other competing employees. A preference eligible employee whose efficiency or per-80 Stat. 429formance rating is below “good” or “satisfactory” is entitled to be retained in preference to competing nonpreference employees who have equal or lower efficiency or performance ratings.