OPM has approved an emergency leave transfer programs related to the Oregon wildfires, in which employees may donate unused annual leave for transfer to employees affected by a major disaster or emergency.
“Agencies with employees adversely affected by the Oregon Wildfires 2020 are in the best position to determine whether, and how much, donated annual leave is needed by their employees and which of their employees have been adversely affected by the emergency within the meaning of OPM regulations. They are also in the best position to quickly facilitate the transfer of donated annual leave within their agencies,” the authorizing memo says.
“Agencies should contact OPM for assistance in receiving additional donated annual leave from other agencies only if they do not receive sufficient amounts of donated annual leave to meet the needs of emergency leave recipients within the agency. Based on the demand for donated leave, OPM will solicit and coordinate the transfer of donated annual leave among federal agencies,” it adds.
Employees seeking to become recipients must apply in writing to their agencies personally or through a personal representative; employees who wish to donate leave should contact their agencies to determine how to do so.
OPM earlier had approved similar authority for wildfires in California as well as for areas affected by Hurricane Laura.
