Q. I plan on retiring in the near future. I will have around 300 hours on annual leave at that time. Is there any Office of Personnel Management guidance that discusses my option to take the leave immediately prior to retirement rather than being paid for that leave at retirement?
A. There is no such thing as terminal leave in the federal civilian service. Therefore, you don’t have a choice. While you can take annual leave at such time and in such amounts as are approved by your supervisor, you can’t burn it off. Just be happy that your unused annual leave will paid to you at the hourly basic pay rate you are receiving when you retire.
