Reimbursement of Travel and Relocation Expenses
Highlights
An employee of the Soil Conservation Service (SCS) claimed travel and relocation expenses incident to a change of duty station. The employee agreed to remain in Government service for 12 months after the effective date of his transfer to a new duty station. Shortly after his transfer, the employee applied for disability retirement and was granted sick leave pending the outcome of the application. After the employee had exhausted his sick and annual leave, the SCS granted him leave without pay. When the application for disability retirement and a request for reconsideration were denied by the Civil Service Commission, SCS ordered him to report to work or be placed in absent-without-leave (AWOL) status. The employee failed to report to work, and AWOL time is not creditable service for the purpose of a service agreement. Therefore, since the employee did not fulfill the 12- month service agreement, he was not entitled to reimbursement for travel and relocation expenses.