Question
[hypothetical] I have “use or lose” annual leave, which I scheduled to use before the end of the leave year. My agency has canceled all scheduled annual leave until further notice because employees must be at work due to a pandemic influenza. It looks like this situation will continue through the beginning of the new leave year. Will I be forced to forfeit my “use or lose” annual leave?
Answer
If an employee schedules “use or lose” annual leave in writing before the third biweekly pay period prior to the end of the leave year, and the leave is canceled due to an exigency of the public business (i.e., an urgent need for the employee to be at work), the employee may request restoration of the forfeited annual leave. See fact sheet on Restoration of Annual Leave.