Due to the impacts of COVID-19 on travel, postal staffing shortages and state quarantine guidelines, etc., some members have been unable to take vacation this year. As a result, many EAS employees possibly could lose earned annual leave by the end of the USPS 2020 leave year. At the August 2020 USPS/NAPS consultative meeting, NAPS requested the USPS increase the maximum annual leave carry over and annual leave exchange amounts.
The USPS notified NAPS that our request was a pay-talks issue and would be reviewed separately from the monthly consultative. Per NAPS’ request, the USPS agreed to modify ELM 512.321, “Maximum Carryover Amounts,” with an alternate decision to NAPS’ request. The Sept. 3 correspondence from USPS Vice President of Labor Relations Doug Tulino provides details regarding the agency’s decision to modify its annual leave and leave exchange policy (see below).
In brief, for Leave Year 2020, the USPS increased the maximum carryover by 80 hours. For Leave Year 2021, the maximum annual leave exchange amount was increased by 40 hours. NAPS appreciates the Postal Service’s decision to modify this policy to protect EAS employees’ well-earned annual leave during this pandemic. NAPS encourages active members to take their annual leave for rest, recreation and personal purposes.
