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Civil Service


Civil Service Benefits

Federal Employment Health Benefits Plans
Thrift Savings Plan
Life Insurance
Annual Leave
Sick Leave
Family Medical Leave
Student Loan Repayment Program
Ten paid holidays per year
Career Counseling and Development through our Career Development
    Resource Center
Child Care Centers
Child Care Subsidy (Based on Income)
Credit Union and Fitness Facility and a host of other on-site services such as a U.S.
    Post Office, barber/beauty shops, dry cleaner and gift/card shops
Employee Assistance Program
Employee Consultation Service
Employee Recognition through our Incentive Awards Program
Employee Recreation Association (Discount tickets to movies and sporting events)
Extensive Training Opportunities through our Foreign Service Institute (FSI)
Flexible Work Hours (alternative work schedules)
Global Career Mobility Opportunities (if desired)
IQ: INFORMATION QUEST
Managerial and Leadership Development
MetroChek Transit Subsidy
Periodic Performance-Based Pay Adjustments (within grade/step increases)
Recruitment Bonuses and Retention Allowances (designated occupations)
Shuttle Bus Service to State Annexes
Special Salary Rates (designated occupations)
Telecommuting and Job Sharing
Voluntary Leave Transfer Program
Workers' Compensation Coverage for work-related injuries/conditions



Federal Employment Health Benefits Plans
Choice of extensive array of Federal Employment Health Benefits Plans, with costs shared by the Government
Employees are eligible to enroll in a wide variety of health insurance plans, including fee-for-service plans and health maintenance organizations. The employee's portion is paid through payroll deductions.

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Thrift Savings Plan (equivalents to 401(K) with Government matching)
Foreign Service Specialists may participate in the Thrift Savings Plan; a long-term savings and investment program for federal employees designed to provide retirement income.

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Life Insurance
Foreign Service Officers are eligible to participate in the Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance plan (FEGLI). The FEGLI plan offers low rates that are paid through payroll deductions. The U.S. Government pays one-third of the cost of this insurance. Participation in the FEGLI plan is voluntary. The plan is intended as a form of immediate protection against financial hardship or loss in the event of death. It is not offered as a form of term life insurance with a cash value, such as might be purchased through private insurance agents.

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Annual Leave
Vacation/Personal Leave; maximum ceiling or limitation of accrual is 30 days per leave year

  • 4 hours per pay period or 13 days per leave year for less than 3 years of federal service
  • 6 hours per pay period or 20 days per leave year after 3 years of federal service but less than 15 years
  • 8 hours per pay period or 26 days per leave year after 15 years
  • of federal service


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Sick Leave
Accrued at a rate of 4 hours per pay period, 13 days per leave year

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Family Medical Leave
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) of 1993 provides Federal
employees with an entitlement of up to 12 workweeks of unpaid
leave during any 12-month period for the following purposes:

  • the birth of a son or daughter of the employee and the care of the newborn;
  • the placement of a child with an employee for adoption or foster care;
  • the care of a child, spouse or parent of the employee with a serious health condition; or
  • a serious health condition of the employee that makes an employee unable to perform the major functions of the job.
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Student Loan Repayment Program
The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has implemented a program for the repayment of student loans. Under this program, agencies may pay up to $6,000 per employee per year, to a maximum of $40,000 total per employee. Civil service employees are eligible if they are in career-type appointments and encumber pre-qualifying positions. Foreign Service Officers and Specialist are eligible if they are serving in positions at pre-qualifying posts.

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Ten paid holidays per year
New Year's Day
Martin Luther King's Birthday
President's Day
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Columbus Day
Veteran's Day
Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Day
(In addition to the above holidays, the U.S. Government also observes some local holidays celebrated at overseas posts of assignment.)

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Employee Consultation Service -
Staffed by licensed clinical social workers to provide counseling and referrals for personal and family concerns.

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IQ: INFORMATION QUEST -
A counseling, education and referral service to help employees manage personal and professional responsibilities (e.g., adoption, adult care)

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Voluntary Leave Transfer Program -
A federal program that enables one federal civilian employee to transfer annual leave to another federal employee who faces a personal medical emergency or a medical emergency of a family member

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