Request for Retroactive Promotion

In lieu of a formal decision, information was provided concerning a retroactive promotion for an employee who, due to her supervisor's failure to sign a document necessary for the intended promotion, was promoted two pay periods late. The supervisor agreed that the employee should have been promoted earlier and that the mistake was not the employee's fault. However, GAO held that, where such an error occurs prior to the approval of the properly authorized official as was the case here, the intent to promote at a particular time cannot be established. Therefore, the employee would not be entitled to a retroactive promotion. However, if the employee wished to pursue the matter, she could file a formal claim.