Civil Service FAQ FREE Pay and Leave Benefits Questions and Answers 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: How many hours of annual leave does a full-time federal employee with 3 to 15 years of service earn per biweekly pay period?
- 4 hours
- 6 hours (Correct answer)
- 8 hours
- 10 hours
Correct answer: 6 hours
Federal employees with 3 to 15 years of service earn 6 hours of annual leave per biweekly pay period (prorated for part-time employees).
Question 2: What is the maximum number of hours of annual leave a federal employee may carry over into the next leave year?
- 120 hours
- 160 hours
- 240 hours (Correct answer)
- 480 hours
Correct answer: 240 hours
Most federal employees may carry over a maximum of 240 hours (30 days) of annual leave into the new leave year; hours above this ceiling are forfeited.
Question 3: Under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), how many weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave may an eligible federal employee take per year for qualifying reasons?
- 6 weeks
- 10 weeks
- 12 weeks (Correct answer)
- 16 weeks
Correct answer: 12 weeks
FMLA entitles eligible employees to up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave in a 12-month period for qualifying family and medical reasons.
Question 4: What pay system covers the majority of white-collar federal civilian employees?
- Federal Wage System (FWS)
- Senior Executive Service (SES) pay schedule
- General Schedule (GS) (Correct answer)
- Executive Schedule (EX)
Correct answer: General Schedule (GS)
The General Schedule (GS) is the predominant pay system for white-collar federal civilian employees, covering grades GS-1 through GS-15.
Question 5: Which type of federal leave allows an employee to be absent from work due to a death in the immediate family?
- Sick leave
- Military leave
- Bereavement (funeral) leave (Correct answer)
- Court leave
Correct answer: Bereavement (funeral) leave
Federal employees are entitled to up to 3 days of paid bereavement (funeral) leave upon the death of an immediate family member.
Question 6: How is a within-grade increase (WGI) — also called a step increase — earned under the General Schedule?
- By taking additional civil service exams
- By completing a set waiting period with an acceptable performance rating (Correct answer)
- By receiving a promotion to the next GS grade
- By working overtime hours beyond the standard schedule
Correct answer: By completing a set waiting period with an acceptable performance rating
A WGI is granted after an employee completes the required waiting period (1, 2, or 3 years depending on the step) with at least an 'acceptable' performance rating.
Civil Service FAQ FREE Pay and Leave Benefits Questions and Answers 2
How many hours of annual leave does a full-time federal employee with 3 to 15 years of service earn per biweekly pay period?