In the latest of a string of reports and congressional inquiries challenging agencies’ use of administrative leave, an IG report has said poor record keeping left it unable to determine the basis for extended periods of such leave at the EPA.
The report concluded that the agency’s use of such leave, also called excused absence “appears disproportionate” considering OPM guidance restricting its use in cases of poor performance or misconduct. That leave is paid time off without charge to other forms of leave.
Auditors examined six cases of such leave extending for at least four months, noting that according to OPM guidance from earlier this year, the leave should generally be limited to situations involving brief absences “and we do not consider four months or more to be a brief absence.”
Documentation was lacking, and in some cases the agency did not follow its own policies in terms of how long such leave should be used, the report said. The agency needs to establish stronger thresholds for granting the leave and stronger parameters for its amount when it is granted, with proper justification and approval for going outside those limits, it said.
The report said that agency management agreed with those recommendations.
