Same Performance Ratings May Not Mean the Same Raise for TSA Employees: Transportation Security Officers who receive the same performance rating they did last year may not get the same amount of raise come January 1 because, according to the Transportation Security Administration, the pay pool is unpredictable and employees themselves did a better job, which raised the bar for payouts. TSA has also raised the number of points employees must earn on their tests to reach the next rating level. This mean some TSOs will have to achieve a higher score than before to maintain the same rating. According to the 2009 Performance Accountability and Standards System (PASS) payout released last week, the percentage of employees receiving a raise is roughly the same as last year, which is 76 percent, but the amount of pay may not be the same despite the same performance.

"While the pay pool for 2009 performance will ensure that PASS-covered employees are properly recognized for their hard work and outstanding achievements, there is no guarantee that all PASS-covered employees will receive a payout equal to or greater than their 2008 performance payout," warns the 2009 PASS payout report. "In addition, due to the unpredictability of current and future budget levels, the overall funding level should not be viewed as a guarantee of future pay pool levels."