Agencies Reminded of Pay, Benefits Changes
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) reminded federal agencies about a slew of changes and extensions to federal pay, benefits, and leave that were included in the fiscal year (FY) 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
The changes were outlined in a memo from OPM Director Kiran Ahuja to agency leaders.
Pay
The NDAA extends the ability for agency heads to waive premium pay caps for federal civilian employees working overseas, until the end of calendar year 2024. Each agency is urged to come up with its own policies for waiver authority, although the Departments of Defense and State teamed up with OPM to develop a guide to help agencies through the process.
It extends the Reserve Income Replacement Program until the end of calendar year 2024. The program provides income replacement for certain reserve component members experiencing extended and frequent mobilization for active-duty service.
It exempts non-appropriated fund employees under military jurisdictions from federal dual pay limitations, which generally bar employees from holding two federal jobs at once.
It also extends the temporary authority for agencies to grant allowances, benefits and gratuities to civilian federal workers working on official business in a combat zone. Those benefits are comparable to those provided to the foreign service. That authority is now due to expire at the end of FY 2025.
Leave
The NDAA tweaked the federal government’s parental leave program, which requires 12 months of employment to access leave through the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). It now allows federal employees who are veterans to count active-duty service toward those 12 months.
“Because of the law change providing credit for qualifying military service, some employees who did not have enough Federal civilian service to meet FMLA leave eligibility requirements might immediately become entitled to use FMLA leave (to include FMLA leave with substitution of paid parental leave) based on their previous active military service,” wrote Director Ahuja in the memo.
The change is also in effect for parental bereavement leave.
The changes to leave policies for military members were first outlined by OPM in February.