Q: You answered a question with the following: “A: According to OPM, you only need to complete your 80-hour work week to get credit for any annual and sick leave earned during that pay period.”
I cannot find this clarification at the OPM website. The “popular” opinion amongst co-workers is that you must be employed for the entire pay/leave period if you have a standard Monday-Friday work week in order to receive annual leave credit for that period. Specifically, if I retire on Dec. 31, 2010, with 80 hours worked, will I receive credit for pay period 26, or must I retire on the last day of that pay period (Jan 1, 2011) to receive the credit?
A: I have checked this out with OPM on more than one occasion and the answer is always the same. You only need to have completed your 80-hour work week to get credit for any annual or sick leave you earned during that pay period. Therefore, if your 80-hour work week ends at 5 p.m. on a Friday, you may retire at the close of business.
