Federal employees in appointments for more than 90 days earn annual and sick leave.

Annual leave (vacation time) is earned per bi-weekly pay period at the rate of 4 hours per pay period (13 days per year) for the first three years, 6 hours per pay period (20 days per year) between 3 and 15 years of service, and 8 hours per pay period (26 days per year) after 15 years of federal government service. Part time employees earn prorated annual and sick leave based on the number of hours worked each pay period. Employees with an intermittent work schedule do not earn annual or sick leave. You can maintain a balance of up to 6 weeks (240 hours) of annual leave to carry over into the next calendar year.  Sick leave is always earned at the rate of 4 hours per pay period. There is no limit on the amount of sick leave you can accrue. If you are called for jury duty, paid court leave is authorized. There are also 10 paid holidays.

The policy allows an employee to use up to 12 weeks (480 hours) during a leave year to care for a family member with a serious health condition.

The FFLA enables employees to use 104 hours of sick leave each leave year to provide care for a family member as a result of physical or mental illness; injury; pregnancy; childbirth; medical, dental, optical examination/treatment; or to arrange or attend the funeral of a family member.

The FMLA enables an employee to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave during any 12-month period to care for the employee’s child after birth, placement for adoption or foster care; to care for family members with a serious health condition; or for the employee’s own serious health condition. An employee may elect to substitute paid time off (e.g., annual or sick leave) for some unpaid FMLA leave.