Claim for Recredit of Sick Leave After Break in Service

A request was made for a decision on the claim of a Foreign Service officer for reinstatement of sick leave. The officer was reemployed after a break in service of over 4 years, which followed his separation from the agency due to a reduction in force. Since his separation was involuntary and he actively sought Government employment during the period of his unemployment, the officer requested the recredit of the sick leave hours which carried to his credit at the time of his separation. Federal regulations provide that an employee who is separated from the Federal Government is entitled to a recredit of his sick leave if he is reemployed in the Federal Government without a break in service of more than 3 years. GAO found the officer's claim is precluded by the operation of these regulations. The claim was denied.