Furloughed Workers’ Leave Accruals Ending

Full-time federal employees who’ve been told not to work because of the partial government shutdown that began Dec. 22 won’t accrue annual and sick leave after they’ve been in “a nonpay status” for 80 hours, or two 40-hour work weeks.

“Congress may, however, authorize retroactive accrual of leave” for furloughed employees, Margaret Weichert, acting director of the Office of Personnel Management wrote in a Jan. 11 memorandum to agency heads. The OPM is the government’s central HR office.

Employees required to work even though their agency is among those affected by the shutdown will continue to accrue annual and sick ...