Q. Our agency is offering VERA, closing at the end of the month. My husband has 20 years of service and will be 50 years old two weeks later. Is there way for the agency to allow him to use leave or leave without pay to reach eligibility? Or would they have to extend the closing date for all employees? He’s also subject to involuntary relocation due to transfer of function if he isn’t able to do the VERA? A. VERAs have a fixed beginning date and, while they can be terminated earlier than the announced closing date, they can’t be…
Browsing: LEAVE
Q. I was hired as a federal employee in 1971 (my service computation date is March 12, 1971.) In 1976, I enlisted in the Air Force Reserve and attended basic training and technical school from April 1977 to September 1977. To attend this training, I used a combination of leave and leave without pay. During the next 30 years, I was either a member of the Reserve or National Guard, and I performed annual military training and/or periods of active duty using annual or military leave and LWOP (never in excess of six months.) I was never in the active-duty military…
Q. I’m new to the federal system and would like to asses my options. 1. I have spent 14 years and about 10 months on active duty in the Armhy plus some reserve time. I understand reserve time is not computed on military buyback. What is the maximum years that I can sell back? 2. I was hired by ICE at the age of 38. How does that factor in for retirement purposes — mandatory retirement age for an ICE covered agent? 3. If I sell my military time, do my leave and sick hours change to match those of…
Q: I am a civilian GS employee and an active reservist. I am getting deployed to Afghanistan for about 100 days. I was wondering if I am allowed to use any/all/combination of my military leave, civilian regular leave or sick leave while I am deployed. This would allow me to get my GS salary as well as my Army salary at the same time. My GS salary is more than my active-duty salary will be. A: You may take military leave (the 15 days granted each year for training), annual leave or LWOP-US. You may not use sick leave. For…
Q: I am 7 days short of my 40 years of service, But with the sick leave , it puts me at 40 years, 3 months. Do I get a 40-year pin and certificate? A: Whether you get a pin and a certificate is up to your agency. However, these forms of recognition are only given to employees who have actually completed a service milestone. While unused sick leave can be added to your length of service when you retire, it can’t be used to increase your service time while you are still working.
Q: I have been employed in law enforcement for the past 13 years. Early in my career, I was ill and had leave without pay for 2 months. If I left the LEO position in seven years for a non-LEO federal position, will I have to take into account the 2 months of LWOP in ensuring I have 20 years in an LEO position? Also, am I correct that I can work 20 years in a LEO position then 4 years in a non-LEO position and retire at 50 with a law enforcement retirement? A: As a rule, periods of…
Q. I noticed the article on your site located here: http://blogs.federaltimes.com/federal-retirement/2010/04/27/service-academy-time-and-accrued-leave. I have been having a heck of a time getting my agency to credit my service academy time for annual leave. Two reasons for this: 1) I’m the first person to ask about this and 2) Our HR department doesn’t have much experience with military members. Is there any way to get a note or email from OPM stating this? Or perhaps a point of contact who can provide something That is about the only thing I can do to get my agency to credit that time. Their response…
Q. I’m planning to retire early this year. After carrying a 240-hour leave balance into 2012, I’d like to work until mid-February, then use up the 240-plus hours of leave until I return to the office on my separation date the last Friday of March. Over the past five years, my unit has consistently hassled me when I request leave well in advance of the desired dates; I’ve reason to be concerned it could be much worse this time. My question(s): Is an employee entitled to take earned leave in this way, as a sort of “terminal leave?” Can an organization…
Q. I am a federal employee under CSRS with 36 years of service. I’m thinking about retiring the end of this year. Is there any advantage to retiring on Saturday, Dec. 31, which is the beginning of the pay period versus Tuesday, Jan. 3, after the New Year holiday? A. Saturday, Dec. 31, is the end of a pay period, not the beginning. If you retired then, you’ll receive a lum-sum payment for any unused annual leave you had to your credit. If you retired after that, any unused leave that exceeded the limit (usually 240 hours) would be lost. That’s…
Q. I am a FERS employee and would like to take eight hours leave without pay every pay period. This would be a total of 208 hours LWOP for the year. Can I do this, or must I go part time? A. You’d have to get your supervisor’s permission to take eight hours of leave without-pay every pay period. The same would be true is you asked to go part time. The decision is up to your supervisor, based on your agency’s needs for your services. If they can spare you, fine; if they can’t, you’re out of luck.