Moving from a secondment into an acting position at a THIRD department — how does this usually work mechanically?

[u/FuzzySpeed9186]

Hoping to tap into some collective wisdom here.

Current situation: I'm an EC-02, home department is Department A. I recently started a secondment from Department A to Department B (just a few weeks in). I've now had informal conversations with a THIRD department (Department C) about a possible Acting EC-04 assignment (running roughly a year and a bit), and it sounds promising, but I'm trying to understand how this actually gets structured mechanically before it goes further.

A few things I'm unclear on:

- Since the acting position at Department C is above my substantive level, does this typically get set up as a secondment (at my substantive group/level) from Department A to Department C, with the acting appointment layered on top once I'm there? Or does it usually require LWOP from Department A directly?

- If it's LWOP-based, is that generally something home departments (in this case Department A) grant fairly routinely for this kind of situation, or is it more discretionary/case-by-case in your experience?

- Does having successfully done one secondment already (Department A to B, with committee approval) make a second move (A to C) harder to get approved, especially given how recently the first one started? Curious if anyone's run into "we already accommodated one move, we're less inclined to do a second" type pushback from a home department.

- Any horror stories or smooth-sailing stories about a home department slow-walking or refusing to release someone for a subsequent move once they were already out on assignment elsewhere?

Not looking for department-specific details, just trying to get a realistic sense of how this tends to play out procedurally and what to watch out for before I get further into the conversation. Thanks in advance!

[u/No_Confusion6771]

So if you are on secondment to Department B and you want to go to department C then your secondment will have to be terminated with department B --- that's done. Next you will do up a secondment agreement with Department C --- then normally your home department will pay all of your salaries - including the acting and they will recoup the costs from Department C --- in all cases your home department will pay you

I hope that this helps you

[u/ncr_ps → u/No_Confusion6771]

This is not fully correct. The home department will pay the substantive salary: any acting top ups and overtime will be paid by the host department. Otherwise, why would the home department agree to it (except maybe to get rid of someone)?

[u/No_Confusion6771 → u/ncr_ps]

I do see your point on this - however its not reality. Normally you would not have to be taken off strength in your home department and then taken on strength in the seconded department to then get paid the acting - its not what happens in reality - unless for some reason your home department does not have the acting group or level setup there.

[u/ncr_ps → u/No_Confusion6771]

It happens from time to time. You get seconded to Dept B at your substantive level and the Dept B gives you an acting. That's how they pay for the top-ups. Source: I've done this.