U.S. Department
of Justice
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
As you progress through your orientation a number of questions may arise. Below are the answers to the most commonly asked questions. If you do not find what you are looking for, feel free to contact your servicing Human Resources Specialist.
- When will I receive my first paycheck?
- Where do I report on my first day?
- Will my federal health benefits cover pre-existing conditions?
- Who can I talk to about my health benefits?
- How soon does my health insurance take effect?
- What is annual leave?
- What is sick leave?
- How soon can I start taking sick and annual leave?
- What are the Federal holidays?
- What is the Employee Personnel Page (EPP)?
- What is the Electronic Official Personnel Folder (eOPF)?
- What is an appointment SF-50?
- What is a grade or step?
- Where can I find answers to my questions about pay?
- Will I get a transit subsidy?
- Is there anyone who can assist me in finding day care?
- Is there a gym in my building?
- Is there a DOJ cafeteria?
- Where are the Health Units located?
- Where are the Civil Division buildings?
- Is there a DOJ shuttle bus?
- Where can I get DOJ gear?
- Is there a Department of Justice credit union?
- Is there a DOJ library I can use?
- How do I get business cards made?
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
1. When will I receive my first paycheck?
Your first paycheck will be deposited the first payday after the end of the pay period in which you were hired. The official payday falls on Mondays. However, electronic funds are sent to your financial institution the weekend before. For your reference, here is the calendar of holidays and pay periods. Please check with your financial institution to determine when your funds will be made available.
2. Where do I report on my first day?
You will report to the Civil Division’s Office of Human Resources at 1100 L St NW, Washington, DC 20005. This information should be available in your job offer letter. If you have any questions, please contact your Human Resources Specialist. Upon completion of the entire orientation process, you will report directly to your duty station.
3. Will my federal health benefits cover pre-existing conditions?
Yes, your federal health benefits will cover pre-existing conditions. There are no exclusions or waiting periods for pre-existing conditions in any plan in the FEHB Program.
4. Who can I talk to about my health benefits?
Contact the Civil Division’s Benefits Service Provider, called Government Retirement & Benefits, Inc. (GRB), at 877-386-4010 or bsc@grbinc.com and ask to speak to a Benefits Counselor for more information about your benefits. For a list of providers go to http://opm.gov/insure. Click on "Healthcare" and then "Plan Information" of the left side navigation menu. Choose your applicable state to find a list of plans available in that state, plan brochures, and more.
5. How soon does my health insurance take effect?
Your health insurance will take effect on the first day of the first pay period after you submit your enrollment form to Government Retirement & Benefits, Inc. (GRB). For more information go to: https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare/
6. What is annual leave?
An employee may use annual leave for vacations, rest and relaxation, personal business and emergencies. An employee has a right to take annual leave, subject to the approval of the supervisor. Employees accrue annual leave during each full pay period worked. The accrual rate is based on the amount of Federal service that you have. For more information, visit: http://www.opm.gov/oca/leave/html/annual.asp
Temporary employees who are on appointments less than 90 days do not earn annual leave.
7.What is sick leave?
An employee may use sick leave for personal medical needs, family care or bereavement of immediate family members, care of a family member with a serious health condition, and adoption-related purposes. Full time employees earn 4 hours of annual leave each pay period. Part time employees accrue 1 hour of leave for each 20 hours worked in a pay period. Temporary employees who are on appointments less than 90 days do earn sick leave. For more information, visit: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/leave-administration/fact-sheets/sick-leave-general-information/
8. How soon can I start taking sick and annual leave?
Employees can begin using sick leave once it is accrued. For annual leave, an employee whose current appointment is not limited to less than 90 days earns and accrues annual leave beginning with his or her first full biweekly pay period and may be granted annual leave as it accrues. An employee whose current appointment is limited to less than 90 days earns and accrues annual leave beginning with his or her first full biweekly pay period, but is not entitled to use annual leave until he or she: (a) Has been employed under successive appointments for a continuous period of 90 days or more without a break in service; or (b) Is converted to an appointment not limited to less than 90 days.
9. What are the Federal holidays?
Please see the Office of Personnel Management's calendar of Federal holidays.
10. What is the Employee Personnel Page (EPP)?
Your pay, leave, and other important personal information about the benefits you selected can be found on the Employee Personal Page. You will not be able to gain access to this website until three to four weeks after you begin your employment. You will receive a "Welcome to EPP" email at your Civil Division work email address with a temporary password and instructions for accessing EPP.
11. What is the Electronic Official Personnel Folder (eOPF)?
The Electronic Official Personnel Folder (eOPF) is an electronic version of your Official Personnel Folder and contains all of the official records required to document your Federal career.
12. What is an appointment SF-50?
The SF-50 is a Notice of Personnel Action that documents your appointment to the Civil Division. Three weeks after you onboard, your appointment SF-50 will be loaded into your Electronic Personnel Folder (eOPF). You will be notified via email when this occurs.
13. What is a grade or step?
Your pay grade is the level at which you are paid. The pay grade of your position is set according to government-wide position classification standards. For more information, visit OPM's General Schedule Overview. Within each pay grade there are 10 steps.
14. Where can I find answers to my questions about pay?
To find answers to your questions about pay, visit OPM’s Pay & Leave Administration website or contact Jeff Walker, the Civil Division’s Human Resources Payroll Specialist.
15. Will I get a transit subsidy?
Federal employees who use public transportation to and from work can receive an employer-provided transit subsidy. The transit benefit is not taxable and does not have to be reported as income. The Transit Subsidy application is available here. The Civil Division’s intranet also contains a transit subsidy page that will be available after you get access to the DOJ computer system.
16. Is there anyone who can assist me in finding day care?
Just Us Kids and US Kids are DOJ-sponsored day care centers. For a list of child care centers in GSA managed spaces, visit the GSA website. WorkLife4You, a research and referral service free to Civil Division employees, offers assistance in emergency backup dependent care. Use the registration code 'DOJJMD.’
17. Is there a gym in my building?
Justice Occupational Health Organization (JOHO) is a non-profit organization that operates the Justice Fitness Centers in the basement of RFK Main Justice and at 3CON. Joining the JOHO gym requires a monthly fee. 1100 L St has a free fitness room with lockers and showers on the 8th floor.
18. Is there a DOJ cafeteria?
The DOJ cafeteria, Justice Café, is located in the basement of the B-600 corridor of the RFK Main building. There is also a Three Fifty Bakery & Coffee Bar, located in Room 1317 of RFK Main.
19. Where are the Health Units located?
The Department has several Health Units, which have office hours with a doctor and nurse. The Health Units also provide annual flu shots to employees. After you arrive, check on DOJNet/Health and Welfare for the most up-to-date locations, hours, and services.
20. Where are the Civil Division buildings?
See the Civil Division map and building list for information.
21. Is there a DOJ shuttle bus?
The Civil Division (and DOJ) are spread throughout numerous buildings in the Washington, DC. The DOJ operates a shuttle bus with different color lines that run between its various buildings. The Red or the Green Line shuttle will take you from your orientation location at 1100 L St to Main Justice to get your DOJ ID. The schedule will be given to you during orientation, and you can access the link here after you gain access to the DOJ computer system.
22. Where can I get DOJ gear?
Department of Justice clothing and gifts can be purchased online at the National Advocacy Center’s gift store. Visit https://nac.catertrax.com.
23. Is there a Department credit union?
Yes. Please visit the Justice Federal Credit Union’s website to learn more.
24. Is there a DOJ library I can use?
The Department Libraries offer extensive legal and general reference and research services including print and electronic books, databases, research guides, and live and online training classes. After you have access to the DOJ system, visit DOJ Libraries.
25. How do I get business cards made?
After you get set up in your office, use this
to request business cards from the Procurement Office.Some links will take you away from the DOJ website, and others may only be available until you have access to the internal DOJ network. To return, click on the back button on your browser or on the initial link.