Guidance Issued on Leave Restoration

The Defense Department has issued guidance on a special provision involving restoration of forfeited annual leave for employees of facilities set to be closed due to the base closings process. Generally, in order for an employee to have forfeited annual leave restored, there must be documentation showing that the employee scheduled use of the leave before a deadline and that an “exigency of the public business” prevented the employee from taking the leave. In base closing situations, no such requirements apply, the guidance says, adding that the more liberal provisions apply even if an employee is being relocated within a commuting area in a base closing and even if the employee is stationed at an installation that is not closing, so long as the employee’s activity is closing. The special provision does not apply in realignments that are also part of the base closing process, however.