Federal Employment: Reauthorization of the Federal Employees Leave Sharing Act of 1988

GAO discussed the reauthorization of the Federal Employees Leave Sharing Act of 1988. GAO noted that: (1) the leave sharing program has operated successfully and federal agencies and employees favor its continuance; (2) the program's administrative costs are low; (3) the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) believes leave sharing is viable and has recommended continuing the program with the leave transfer and leave bank approaches to leave sharing; (4) program experience at GAO was similar to the experience reported by OMB; (5) a governmentwide employee attitude survey found that 20 percent of employees have donated leave and one percent have received leave donations; (6) the survey respondents have expressed strong interest in expanding the leave sharing program to allow family members to share annual leave with each other under any circumstances, which may be an appropriate way to expand the program under proper controls; and (7) the act should be reauthorized.