Restoration of Leave Forfeited Because of Furlough Date: Tue, 13 Feb 1996 15:58:02 -0500 From: "Kathleen B. Rutledge Acting Personnel Officer (Kathleen B. Rutledge)" To: "USGS Employees" Subject: Restoration of Leave Forfeited Because of Furlough We have worked with the Payroll Office to develop simplified procedures for restoring annual leave which was scheduled but not taken because of the furlough from December 18, 1995, through January 5, 1996. Forms and instructions for requesting leave restoration are being distributed through division channels now. We have developed a special one-page multipurpose form to be used to request restoration of leave forfeited because of the furlough. Employees will complete the top part of the form and sign it; supervisors will certify that the leave was scheduled and confirm the number of hours forfeited. Timekeepers will submit the forms to the Payroll Office, which will use them as authorization to establish a separate leave account for the restored leave. (Forms may be batched.) The form also contains information on conditions for using restored leave. Leave restored because of the furlough must be used by January 3, 1998, or it is forfeited forever. It will be reported in a separate box at the bottom left side on the Leave and Earnings Statement ("Rest/An"). Employees will have to notify timekeepers when they are using restored leave, so timekeepers can code Time and Attendance Reports properly. The Payroll Office has asked that we submit forms with ORIGINAL signatures and that we not submit faxed or xeroxed forms. Payroll staff will input data directly from the forms, so they will need to recognize the original signature of the authorizing official (the supervisor). They are processing many requests for restored leave, so please be patient and allow time for the information to be put into your account. When the leave has been restored, it should show up in your Leave and Earnings Statement. Please follow up on your requests through your timekeeper. Remember that use of restored leave requires prior supervisory approval, just as use of regular leave. You and your supervisor should plan together when you will use the leave you earn (26 days if you are in the 8-hour category) PLUS your restored leave. You have 2 years to use the restored leave, and you need not take it all at once. However, you and your supervisor must guard against repeated requests for restored leave. Begin early to plan so that office needs as well as your personal preferences can be accommodated. If you retire or resign before you use the leave in your restored leave account, you can be paid for that leave along with other unused annual leave. You should receive forms and instructions from your division shortly. If you have questions after you receive this information, please call your division administrative officer or your servicing personnel office.