Mexico City, Mexico Congressional aides seated behind Senators during a recent Senate hearing. There are no uniform personnel standards in Congress. Each Member or committee establishes their own personnel policies.
Practices regarding sick leave or vacation time vary greatly.
Most offices allow staff to take time off only when Congress is not in session. Some staff positions are held to a 40-hour week, with compensatory or overtime pay beyond that. Other positions are treated as salaried professionals who work as needed, with no extra compensation or overtime. Often the House and Senate are in late at night, and many staff aides are expected to remain on the job until their chamber adjourns. Hours are made up on an informal basis when the Congress is not in session.