Other Employee Benefits

Child Care

Balancing the needs of work and family can be challenging in today’s world. GSA recognizes that many federal employees have a need for child care facilities. There are child care centers operating in GSA managed space across 31 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

In addition, GSA supports employees through the Child Care Subsidy Program enacted by legislation, which allows federal agencies in the executive branch to use appropriated funds to assist their lower income federal civilian employees with child care costs.  The intended effect of the law is to make child care more affordable for lower income federal employees, when both parents or single parents work.

More information on GSA’s Child Care Subsidy Program contact your local Human Resources Office.

Employee Assistance ProgramGSA's Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offers, at no cost to employees, assistance for a variety of other situations -- such as mental, emotional, family, legal and financial problems, job stress -- in addition to dealing with drug and alcohol problems.

The EAP helps employees -- and where feasible their families -- with problems that may affect their well-being and their ability to do their jobs.

EAP services are provided on a local basis.  GSA regional offices contract with private sector organizations or providers of EAP services.  For more information about this program contact your local Human Resources office.

There are a variety of flexible alternative work schedules (AWS) and workplace arrangements available. AWS policy is subject to collective bargaining and varies among GSA regions and headquarters. Alternative work schedules must be established in advance just like regular schedules. Alternative work schedules are divided into two major types, compressed work schedules and flexible work schedules:

• Compressed Work Schedules
  This schedule is also referred to as "5/4/9" or 4/10, and requires that an employee works a total of 80 hours within 9 or 8 work days, instead of the traditional 10 work days. This provides an employee an extra day off each pay period. These are fixed schedules, starting and stopping at prescribed times.
  
  
• Flexitour
  A Flexitour schedule is a fixed schedule that differs from a regular schedule only in that it involves a range of arrival times. A Flexitour schedule requires an employee to work 8 ½ hours each day for 10 workdays.

Telework (also called telecommuting, Flexiplace, flexible workplace, and work-at-home) is the ability to accomplish your work at a location other than your "regular office." Many employees can work from almost anywhere at least some of the time.
GSA policy allows for a wide range of telework arrangements, which are agreed to by employees and supervisors.  Typically, any type of telework arrangement must be coordinated with your immediate supervisor.

• CIO University
  The Chief Information Officer (CIO) University program offers graduate-level programs for federal information technology professionals. Courses are offered through selected universities.
  
  
• Federal Acquisition Institute
  The Federal Acquisition Institute offers both online and classroom training to acquisition professionals.
  
  
• Leadership Institute
  GSA’s Leadership Institute provides GSA-specific leadership development programs that create future leadership potential and ensure that our current leadership cadre has the essential knowledge and skills to create world-class workplaces and results.
  
  
• On-Line University
  GSA’s On-Line University delivers a wide spectrum of training to GSA employees’ desktops.  On-Line University offers free training on contracting, financial management, managerial skills, competencies, software applications, business skills and more.  Most courses offered through On-Line University are free and offer the ease of taking training at your own pace.  On-Line University is available through GSA’s internal Web site. 
  
  
• PBS Academy
  GSA’s Public Buildings Service (PBS) Academy offers training to all PBS employees looking for career development opportunities.  The PBS Academy focuses on four areas:
  •   Employee Orientation
  •   Professional Development
  •   Management Development
  •   Executive Leadership Development

Transit Pass Benefit Program GSA subsidizes the commuting costs of qualified agency employees through its Transit Subsidy Program.  Under this program, employees who commute by public transportation, including Metro, bus, train, or qualified vanpool may receive "transit passes" or "fare media" such as subway cards, vouchers etc.  This benefit is provided to improve air quality, reduce traffic congestions, and conserve energy by encouraging employees to use public transportation.