Interim Rules May Affect Leave Accrual for Some New Hirees

Interim regulations from the Office of Personnel Management allow credit for work experience (including active military duty time, for a military retiree) that otherwise would not be creditable for the purpose of determining the annual leave accrual rate of a newly appointed employee, or an employee who is reappointed following a break in service of at least 90 calendar days after his or her last period of civilian federal employment. Under the regs, crediting can be granted if the agency determines that: the skills and experience the employee possesses are essential to the new position and were acquired through performance in a non-federal position having duties that directly relate to the position to which he or she is being appointed; and the use of the authority is necessary to achieve an important agency mission or performance goal. The provision is effective April 28, 2005 and does not apply retroactively to those appointed or reappointed before that date.