Annual leave is used for vacations, rest and relaxation, personal business and emergencies. You earn annual leave every two weeks and when it is used, it is paid at the same rate as your regular pay. The amount earned is based on years of service:
 

• Employees with less than three years of service earn 13 days per year.
• Employees with three to 15 years of service earn 20 days per year.
• Employees with 15 or more years of service earn 26 days per year.
• Part-time employees earn leave on a pro-rated basis depending on number of hours worked every two weeks.

DFAS offers an average of 40 percent more annual leave than the national average offered by private industry.

Full-time employees earn four hours of sick leave every pay period, or 104 hours a year and it is paid at the same rate as your regular salary. The federal government's generous sick leave program provides a greater benefit than most private sector companies' short-term disability programs. Federal employees receive 100 percent of their pay when sick leave is used and there is no limit to how much sick leave can be accrued.

There are 11 legal federal holidays. If a holiday falls on a Saturday, the preceding Friday is used. If a holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is used. Most employees receive holiday pay equal to their regular pay

Full-time employees may use up to 104 hours of sick leave each year for family care and bereavement purposes. Part-time employees and employees with uncommon tours of duty are also covered. The amount of sick leave used for these purposes is pro-rated.

You may use Family Friendly sick leave:

• to provide care for a family member due to physical or mental illness
• injury
• pregnancy
• childbirth, and/or adoption
• accompany or provide transportation for a family member for medical, dental, or optical examination or treatment
• after the death of a family member (to make funeral arrangements or attend the funeral)

Under the Family Medical Leave Act you are entitled to up to 12 work weeks of unpaid leave during any 12-month period. Under certain conditions, you may use the 12 weeks of FMLA leave intermittently. You may choose to substitute any annual or sick leave you have for unpaid leave under the FMLA subject to the rules for using the paid leave.

FMLA may be used for:

• the birth of a child
• placement of a son or daughter with you for adoption or foster care
• care of your spouse, son, daughter, or parent with a serious health condition
• your own serious health condition that makes you unable to perform the duties of your position

The federal government offers numerous leave and work scheduling flexibilities assisting you in meeting work and family obligations. These flexibilities are addressed in DFAS internal policies and/or collective bargaining agreements.

This program allows federal employees to donate annual leave to other federal employees who have exhausted paid leave and are in a non-pay status due to a medical emergency.