SECTION 260:25-7-21. Relocation Incentive

(a)   Appointing Authorities may implement a pay incentive plan intended to encourage employees to relocate when it is determined that there is difficulty recruiting qualified candidates for the position. The plan must be approved by the Human Capital Management Division and must identify the job family or families to which the incentive will be applicable. The plan will also identify factors that establish the need for the incentive, which may include, but need not be limited to, one or more of the following:

(1)   Recent turnover in similar positions in the locality involved;

(2)   Employment trends and labor-market factors that may affect the agency's ability to recruit candidates for the locality involved;

(3)   Special or unique qualifications required for the position;

(4)   Failure of non-pay authorities, such as special training or work scheduling flexibilities, to resolve difficulties in recruiting candidates;

(5)   The desirability of the duties, work or organizational environment, or geographic location of the position; and

(6)   Other supporting factors.

(b)   The plan must contain a certification that the additional costs associated with the proposed incentive can be accommodated within the agency's existing budget. The plan shall be signed by the Appointing Authority, and this signature requirement may not be delegated. No payment shall be made under this Section until the plan has been reviewed and accepted by the Administrator.

(c)   A position is considered to be in a different geographic area if the worksite of the new position is 50 or more miles from the worksite of the position held by the employee immediately before the move. The employee must establish a residence in the new geographic area before an appointing authority may pay a relocation incentive.

(d)   The relocation pay incentive shall not exceed 20% of the employee's base pay in the new position The determination to pay a relocation incentive must be made before the employee enters on duty in the position. An agency may pay a relocation incentive:

(1)   As an initial lump-sum payment at the commencement of a 2-year service period required by a service agreement;

(2)   In installments throughout the 2-year service period; or

(3)   As a final lump-sum payment upon the completion of the 2-year service period.

(e)   To receive the incentive, employees shall be required to sign an agreement form acknowledging they are obligated to repay the entire incentive, including tax withholdings on the incentive, if they leave state employment or accept employment with another state agency prior to the expiration of 2-year service period.

(f)   An employee may receive no more than two relocation pay incentives during his or her state employment. A relocation pay incentive will not be approved if an earlier relocation pay incentive was approved within the previous five-year period.

[Source: Added at 31 Ok Reg 1346, eff 9-12-14]