Under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), unused time off allocated for illness can be converted to additional service credit at retirement. This conversion impacts the final annuity calculation, potentially increasing the monthly payment a retiree receives. For instance, an employee with several months of accrued, unused time off may see their total creditable service extended, leading to a larger retirement benefit.
The ability to convert accrued time off enhances the value of government service, providing a financial incentive for prudent management of time off. This feature of FERS recognizes and rewards employees for their commitment to work and minimizing absences due to illness. Historically, the inclusion of this provision has been viewed as a means to attract and retain federal employees, bolstering morale and encouraging responsible time off usage.
