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The Longevity Pay Program Guide is an official 18- The Longevity Pay Program Guide is an official 18-page policy and administration manual issued by the Oklahoma Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES) – Human Capital Management, revised in November 2024. It serves as the definitive statewide reference for how longevity pay is calculated, awarded, managed, and governed for Oklahoma state employees. It explains eligibility rules, creditable service, payout provisions, statutory authority, and administrative procedures in clear detail.
The guide begins with the historical foundation of the program, established in 1982 to help agencies attract and retain skilled employees. It then provides a structured breakdown of who is entitled to longevity pay and which types of employment count toward creditable service. These include most state employees, certain educational institutions under the State Regents for Higher Education, employees in the judicial branch, legislative session employees with at least two years’ part-time service, and contract employees paid with state fiscal resources. It also lists non-eligible groups such as members of boards and commissions, elected officials, city/county employees, and workers in private or proprietary universities.
The document defines eligibility status, emphasizing rules around continuous service, breaks in service, temporary employment conversion, legislative service provisions, and different categories of leave without pay (LWOP) such as workers’ compensation leave, active military duty, and other unpaid leave. Each type of LWOP impacts the longevity anniversary date differently.
A major section describes creditable service, outlining conditions for counting part-time or temp-to-permanent employment, rules regarding dual employment, and special provisions for employees affected by reduction-in-force. It explains how all prior qualifying service is totaled, rounded down to whole years, and certified using official OMES longevity forms.
The guide then details payout provisions, including the full statutory longevity payment schedule, which awards annual lump-sum payments ranging from $250 (2–4 years) up to $2,000 (20 years), with an additional $200 added every two years beyond 20 years. Full-time and qualifying part-time employees receive the entire amount, while other part-time or LWOP-affected employees receive prorated payments. It also explains special payout rules for employees separating due to reduction-in-force, voluntary buyout, retirement, or death.
A built-in longevity calculator is referenced for agencies to compute payments accurately, and a robust FAQ section addresses real-world scenarios such as temporary service conversion, workers’ compensation periods, fragmented prior service, retirement timing, and special cases like CompSource Oklahoma or Pathfinder retirement eligibility.
The appendices provide important supporting materials:
Appendix A – the official OMES HCM-52 Longevity Certification Form.
Appendix B – a complete list of eligible institutions under the State Regents for Higher Education.
Appendix C – a list of independent/private universities that are not eligible.
Appendix D – institutions under the Department of Career and Technology Education.
Appendix E – the full statutory text of 74 O.S. § 840-2.18, which legally governs Oklahoma’s longevity pay system.
Overall, the guide is the authoritative source for ensuring accurate, consistent, statewide administration of longevity pay, combining legislative requirements, policy clarification, and practical, step-by-step administrative guidance.
If you'd like, I can prepare:
📌 a simplified one-page summary
📌 a comparison with your other longevity documents
📌 a training guide or slide deck version
📌 or a cross-document integrated briefing
Just tell me!... |