RALEIGH, (SGRToday.com) - Federal agencies have discretion to use paid leave as they see fit, but a new report from the GAO has revealed abuses, including leaves of up to three years.

 

The GAO reviewed five agencies for its study: the Departments of Defense (DOD), the Interior, and Veterans Affairs (VA); the General Services Administration; and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

 

According to the GAO report:

 

"After separating federal holidays from the payroll data, OPM-reported data showed that from fiscal year 2011 through 2013, paid administrative leave accounted for less than 1 percent of total paid work days and estimated salary cost. 

 

Over these 3 years, about 97 percent of employees charged 20 days or less (see figure). For the same time period, 263 employees charged between 1 and 3 years of paid administrative leave, with an estimated salary cost of $31 million."

 

The reports says the most common reason for extended paid leave relates to personell issues such as investigations into misconduct.

 

The entire report can be found at GAO.gov.