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.