In a report that has brought criticism from Capitol Hill of agency management controls over paid time off without charge to leave, GAO has found that about 57,400 federal employees were given more than 20 working days, the equivalent of a working month, of excused absence in fiscal 2011-2013.
While that administrative leave amounted to less than 1 percent of total paid work days and thus salary costs, the expense still was substantial at $3.1 billion, GAO estimated.
Over that time, about 97 percent of employees who took paid administrative leave charged 20 days or less, commonly for purposes such as weather closures, voting, blood donations and time off on return from active military duty or from a civilian assignment overseas. But 53,000 charged one to three working months’ worth, another 3,000 charged three to six, almost 300 charged between nine months and a year, and 263 employees charged between one and three years—with an estimated salary cost just for them of $31 million.
“Agency officials stated that the most common reason for which selected employees charged amounts relatively higher than the agency average, was for personnel matters, such as investigations into alleged misconduct,” GAO said.
GAO noted that under OPM policy, while it is presumed that an employee will remain in a duty status during an advance notice period in a disciplinary action, “in rare circumstances where the agency determines the employee’s presence in the workplace may pose a threat to the employee or others, result in loss of or damage to government property, or otherwise jeopardize legitimate government interests, the agency may elect from one or a combination of alternatives, including placing an employee on administrative leave for such time as necessary to effect the action.”
There are also inaccuracies in the data due to differences between what OPM and individual agencies consider to be paid administrative leave and what payroll providers report as such leave. For example, there are differences in how union “official time” and holidays are treated.
The report is here: http://www.gao.gov/assets/670/666566.pdf
