Employee Leave and Absence from Work

Forfeited Leave

You can save up to 45 days (360 hours) of annual leave and up to 90 days (720 hours) of sick leave. Any hours you earn over these amounts are forfeited. However, your agency will keep a record of the amount of leave you forfeit. Because forfeited leave can be valuable, it is also a good idea for you to keep your own forfeited leave record.

What is the value of forfeited leave to you?

These forfeited leave hours can benefit you in two ways.

1. Free long-term disability insurance, which not only saves you money but protects you (and your family) by ensuring your full income in case of long-term illness or disability.

2. For members of the Employees’ Retirement System, you can use your forfeited leave to extend your years of service so that you can retire earlier. This benefit would start if you have saved a combined total of at least 120 days of forfeited sick leave, forfeited annual leave, combined with any balance of sick leave hours you have saved. Keep in mind that if you have saved the maximum of 720 hours of sick leave that already equals 90 days.