The IRS offers a steady work schedule, alongside a wealth of federal benefits, workplace flexibilities and work-life programs that go above and beyond those in the private sector to help you balance career and home. Some of the many programs available to you include:
Alternative Work Schedules (AWS) Program
The AWS Program provides employee’s the flexibility to choose or vary their work schedule from the standard 8-hour day and 40-hour week. Employees may request AWS to help balance work, personal and family responsibilities.
Telework Allowance
Telework allowance is dependent on role and responsibilities. Many IRS positions offer hybrid work schedules or telework opportunities, allowing most work to be performed from home or the taxpayer’s place of business when working in the field.
Leave Program
Multiple leave options are available to help employees maintain a work-life balance, including:
13 days of annual leave for vacations and personal needs.
13 days of paid sick leave for employee and family medical needs.
12 weeks of paid parental leave for pregnancy, birth, adoption and/or foster care of a child.
11 paid federal holidays Family Medical Leave Act for serious health conditions employees or their family members may experience.
Advanced leave when the severity of the situation warrants its approval and use.
Other types of leave for circumstances that employees might encounter, such as Bone Marrow and Organ Donor Leave, Court Leave, Military Leave and leave without pay.
Student Loan Repayment Program
The Student Loan Repayment Program is offered to eligible IRS employees to reduce the amount they pay for student loans. The program is designed for highly qualified IRS employees who occupy hard-to- fill positions by helping them repay all or a portion of their federally insured qualifying student loans. Student loan repayments may be up to $10,000 per year, and up to $60,000 in total for any one employee.
Balancing Work and Family
Here at the IRS, we're committed to helping employees balance their work and family life.
Child Care Centers
Balancing the needs of work and family life can be challenging. The IRS works in partnership with the General Services Administration (GSA) to provide on-site child care facilities. GSA manages these centers in 31 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico—and 10 of them are co-located with IRS facilities. Each center is independently operated and is not managed by GSA or any center to center. In addition, our Employee Assistance Program can also provide you with free referral information to assist you in finding care for children, grandchildren and eldercare.
Child Care Subsidy Program
The Child Care Subsidy program is offered to eligible IRS employees to reduce the amount they pay for childcare for their children in licensed day care providers. The program is designed to encourage eligible employees and their families to use quality child care services by offsetting a portion of their costs by up to $5,000 per year.
Employee Assistance Program
Free employee assistance services are available to all of our employees and their immediate family members around the clock (24/7) to help with everyday challenges affecting their personal and professional lives. These services, provided by ComPsych Corporation, help families overcome stressful life issues and personal concerns. Employee assistance services include cost-free confidential counseling to address a variety of personal issues that you or your dependents may be facing—from marital conflict, stress, grief/loss and depression to alcohol and drug abuse.
The Employee Assistance Program provides free information and resources for legal, financial, eldercare, childcare and other issues employees or their family members may face.
Lactation Program
IRS employees have designated, private space to express their milk. This space can be a health clinic or conference room with a table, chair, electrical outlet and a small refrigerator.
IRS University
IRS knows effective training and development improves employee productivity and overall job satisfaction. The IRS University (IRSU) is preparing our workforce for the future by providing tools and resources to help employees achieve their leadership development goals.
All employees have access to this innovative, centralized learning function across four academies of training curricula within structured yet flexible career paths, including Taxpayer Service, Tax Administration, Information Technology (IT), Operations Management, and Leadership.
Federal Academic Alliance
Pursue post-secondary education at reduced tuition rates. OPM partners with colleges and universities as a part of the continuing efforts to provide higher educational opportunities to the federal workforce by providing current federal employees with the opportunity to take advantage of this benefit to pursue or enhance their higher academic education at their own pace. Some agreements extend the benefits to spouses and legal dependents. See Federal Academic Alliance to learn more.
Fitness Centers
Space in federal buildings is provided for exercise at some IRS locations. Nationwide, there are 27 on-site workout facilities. There are no membership fees in IRS-only fitness centers, but other fitness centers located in GSA shared federal buildings may require a membership fee.
Health Services
Because we recognize how important it is to maintain a healthy and fit federal workforce, we offer excellent health services in IRS employees. They will help promote and maintain your physical and mental fitness with a variety of services, such as flu shots, cholesterol and blood pressure screenings, smoking cessation programs and wellness workshops. On-site health units in many of our locations also provide episodic care, health screenings, health risk appraisals and more. Facilities are available for IRS employee use at no cost.
Leave Sharing Program
The Leave Sharing Program—open to full-time and part-time employees—is comprised of the IRS Leave Bank and Leave Transfer programs. If you are a member of the Leave Bank, you can apply donated annual leave to a personal or family medical emergency. The Leave Transfer Program will also allow you to receive donated leave from other employees when you're facing a medical emergency or a qualifying disaster-related event.
Drug-Free Workplace Program
It is federal government policy to ensure a drug-free workplace and offer prevention and/or treatment programs and services for substance abuse to federal employees. Our drug-free workplace plan includes an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) as an essential element in achieving a drug-free workplace. IRS employees experiencing drug and/or alcohol problems have an opportunity to seek rehabilitation, receive their issues and become fully productive members of our workforce.