Washington, D.C. 20530

September 23, 2004

MEMORANDUM FOR DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE EMPLOYEES
                                           (Except for Employees of the Federal Bureau of Investigation
                                            and the Executive Office for U.S. Trustees)

Every year, the Department provides employees the opportunity to become members of the Voluntary Leave Bank Program (VLBP) or to renew their annual membership. The Department provides the opportunity for leave sharing under two similar but separate programs, the VLBP and the Voluntary Leave Transfer Program (VLTP). Employees experiencing medical emergencies may request leave from both programs simultaneously, provided they meet the requirements of each.

Open season for the VLBP will be held from October 4 through December 10, 2004. If you enroll during this time, you will be a member of the Leave Bank during leave year 2005, which begins on January 9, 2005. During the enrollment period, employees may become members of the Leave Bank by contributing a minimum of one pay period of "accrued" annual leave (4, 6, or 8 hours). A Request for Leave or Approved Absence Form (SF-71) is used to apply for Leave Bank membership. You may also make non-membership contributions or make specific donations using these forms (which may be obtained from your timekeeper, Personnel Office, or accessed through Informs on your computer). Use-or-lose annual leave and donations above the minimum amount required for membership are encouraged. All use-or-lose annual leave donations should be noted as such in the Remarks section on the Application.

Leave Bank membership contributions must be donated during the open season; however, donations will be accepted at any time during the year from employees who wish to make specific donations to approved leave recipients, or to donate leave to the Bank but not become a Leave Bank member. Donations to specific employees, who have been approved by the Leave Bank Board as leave recipients, are given to the individual specified by the donor. Unused leave remaining from specific donations are deposited into the Bank. All other contributions are deposited immediately into the Leave Bank for member use. Specific donations or contributions other than for membership do not entitle the donor to Leave Bank membership. In addition, if you qualify as a leave recipient, your absence from work must be approved by your supervisor. Membership in the VLBP does not create an automatic entitlement to leave; it enables employee members, who have no other recourse, to seek relief when faced with significant loss of pay due to a medical emergency.

Leave year 2004 open season provided nearly 25,000 hours of donated leave. To date, those donations have enabled assistance for approximately 133 employees who are Leave Bank members. Due to the generosity of Department employees, these employee members were provided a measure of financial support while they were burdened with health concerns.

Please contact your Leave Sharing Coordinator listed below or local Personnel Office if you wish to become a Leave Bank member, make a contribution, or have any questions regarding this Program. You may also visit our website at www.usdoj.gov/jmd/ps/guibank.htm.

Return to the TOP