Q. My department is pushing “time-off awards,” probably as a way of adding compensation during the pay freeze. Are hours accrued through time off awards paid to the employee if unused at the time of retirement?
A. No. According to the Office of Personnel Management, “The ‘currency’ of a time-off award is time, not money. Agencies have the authority to grant cash awards when they feel that is the appropriate form of recognition or incentive.”
