Postal Bill Has FECA Waiting Period

A postal reform bill that Congress passed just before adjourning (HR-6407) requires that postal employees go through a three-day waiting period before they can start receiving “continuation of pay” benefits for a temporary disability. During that time workers will be able to use sick leave, annual leave or leave without pay, and if the disability lasts more than 14 days or turns out to be permanent, they will be reimbursed for leave they took or paid for LWOP time. USPS has been trying for many years to limit its costs on workers compensation since it is a labor-intensive operation with significant numbers of injuries. Most state workers compensation programs have waiting periods, but the new provision will create a distinction between postal and executive branch employees, and could set a precedent for applying a similar policy to executive branch workers. The provision nearly killed the postal reform bill because unions objected so strongly.