OPM Authorizes Paid Leave for COVID-19 Boosters

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) announced on Thursday it is authorizing up to four hours of paid leave for federal employees to get the updated COVID-19 vaccine.

In a memo to agency heads, OPM Director Kiran Ahuja said the administrative leave covers the time it takes to travel to the vaccination site, receive the vaccine and return to work. Unvaccinated employees can still use the paid leave for their primary series doses.

Agencies should also grant up to two workdays of administrative leave if an employee has any adverse reaction to a COVID-19 vaccine dose that prevents the employee from working, the memo states. Employees who request more than two workdays to recover may take other appropriate leave (e.g., sick leave) to cover any additional absence.

Employees can also receive up to four hours of paid leave to take a family member to get an additional vaccine dose, Ahuja wrote.