Federal Workforce
Retirement Credit Has Contributed to Reduced Sick Leave Usage Gao ID: GGD-86-77BR June 6, 1986Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information on the effects of the law authorizing federal employees to exchange unused sick leave for service credit for retirement purposes.
GAO found that: (1) generally, federal employees' average sick leave balances upon retirement have increased since Congress changed the law in 1968; (2) retiring employees had an average of 38 percent more unused sick leave in 1984 than in 1968; (3) retiring employees had an average of 46 percent more unused sick leave in 1985 than in 1968; and (4) the 1968 change in the law at least partially contributed to the increase.