Leave Exchange
Leave Exchange
On each July 1, the Leave Exchange Program allows eligible employees to exchange a portion of their PPL for other benefits. The following is a summary of the elections available:
- Election 1
- Qualifications: Employees must have 5 years continuous regular, full-time service with the City and unused PPL of at least 240 hours (336 for 24-hour fire) and used at least 40 hours of PPL (56 for 24-hour fire) during the preceding 12 months. The used time does not have to be consecutive.
- Options: If qualified, employees may elect to have:
- 40 hours (56 for 24-hour fire) of PPL transferred to Paid Medical Leave (PML), or
- 40 hours (56 for 24-hour fire) of base pay contributed to the employee’s ICMA account; or
- 40 hours (56 for 24-hour fire) exchanged for 3 months of retirement credit.
- Election 2
- Qualifications: Employees must have 5 years continuous regular, full-time service with the City and have unused PPL balance of at least 480 hours (672 for 24-hour fire) and have taken at least 40 hours (56 for 24-hour fire) of PPL during the preceding 12 months and be within 5 years of retirement eligibility.
- Option: Employees may elect to exchange an additional 40 hours (56 for 24-hour fire) of PPL for 3 months of retirement credit.
- Election 3
- Qualifications: Employees must have 5 years continuous regular, full-time service with the City and be within 5 years of retirement eligibility and have a PPL balance of at least 80 hours (112 for 24-hour fire) and have certified qualified previous service time. Qualified previous service time includes: CETA time, up to 10 years active duty service in the U. S. Armed Forces, refunded contributions from the Newport News Employees’ Retirement Fund, or time with VRS or any other political subdivision of Virginia, for which there is no retirement benefits.
- Option: Qualified employees may exchange any PPL in excess of 80 hours (112 for 24-hour fire) to purchase qualified retirement credit.
PPL Maximum Cutback
The paid personal leave (PPL) maximum carryover from one fiscal year to the next is 640 hours for regular employees (864 for 24-hour fire, 60 for part-time).
If an employee has exceeded the maximum carryover allowed for PPL, up to 80 hours (112 for 24-hour fire, 0 hours for part-time) of the excess will be automatically transferred to the employee’s paid medical leave (PML) balance. The remaining PPL in excess of the maximum will then be forfeited. If you qualify under the Leave Exchange Program, the maximum carryover is not computed until after the leave options have been exercised.




