How Long Can an OPM Detail Last?

As a general matter, an OPM detail, an assignment from the federal Office of Personnel Management (OPM), can last for as long as five years. However, there may be exceptions and extensions that apply to this time limit.

The Office of Personnel Management is one of the branches of the United States government that helps to oversee all of the personnel employed by the United States government, including military, air force, navy, and other personnel.

Sometimes, as a member of the OPM, you may be detailed to work overseas with the governments of other countries - this is referred to as an OPM detail. 

• An OPM detail can last a maximum of five years.
• There is the possibility of an additional three years being added on to your OPM detail if the agency head in charge of assigning the detail approves the extension in writing.  

Laws Associated with an OPM Detail

If you have been assigned to an international detail as a part of your employment with the Office of Personnel Management, there are a number of different things that you should know about your obligations and rights. You should also be aware of several different laws and regulations associated with an OPM detail so you can make sure you are being treated appropriately.

Two of these important regulations deal with your salary when an OPM detail and on who can be assigned an OPM detail.

Salary

• One of the interesting facts about being detailed to an international organization is that, as of 2008 changes to the law, you are no longer required to be paid the same amount by the international organization in salary as you would have been paid by your domestic agency during that time period. 
• For example, if your salary working for the domestic OPM assignment was $50,000, and you were transferred to an international agency paying only $40,000, the OPM would have had to make up the difference in pay under the old laws.  However, as of 2008, you can be transferred to an international organization without the equalization of pay under the recent changes in the law.

Eligibility for Assignment

• An individual is eligible to be picked for international details even as a temporary employee of the Office of Personnel Management. 
• This means that technically, even as a contract or other temporary employee, you can be assigned overseas and tasked with a detail involving working for an international organization.
• If this occurs, upon your return, your temporary time will be recalculated as per the national OPM guides under the current laws. 
• Pay for both temporary and full time OPM employees when they return to the United States is also set by law, so your pay will be calculated when you have returned to the US according to whatever metric is currently in place upon your return. 

Keep in mind that you are limited to a maximum of five, with a possible three extra, years of international detail under the current laws governing the OPM.

So, now you know how long an OPM detail can last and you also have some additional information on who can be assigned to an OPM detail and what your compensation will be if you are assigned to go.