Training Policy Handbook
Continued Service Agreements
Each agency head determines the conditions for requiring employees to
agree to continue in service after completing training e.g. 180 hours
or more of Government or non-Government training. An employee selected
for training must agree in writing with the Government before
assignment to training to continue in service for a period at least
equal to three times the length of the training period. Title 5 USC §4108(a)(1).
If the employee leaves the Government before the agreed-upon amount
of service, the agency has the right to require repayment for the amount
of time not served. Id. at (b) and (c).
The head of an agency may waive in whole or in part the agency's
right of recovery if it is shown that the recovery would be against
equity and good conscience or against the public interest. Id.
at (c). For example, if an employee who is under a continued service
agreement decides to voluntarily leave Federal service due to an impending
reduction-in-force, the agency may determine that waiving its right
to recovery would be in the public interest and release the employee
from the agreement.