Applies to: Thursday, January 27, 2011
Federal agencies in the Washington, DC, area are OPEN under 2 hours DELAYED ARRIVAL and employees have the OPTION FOR UNSCHEDULED LEAVE OR UNSCHEDULED TELEWORK. Employees should plan to arrive for work no more than 2 hours later than they would normally arrive.
Non-emergency employees are expected to report to their office for work no later than the designated number of hours provided past their normal arrival time. Employees should plan their commutes so that they arrive for work no more than xx hours later than they would normally arrive. For example, if OPM announces a 2-hour delayed arrival policy, employees who normally arrive at 8:00 a.m. must arrive for work no later than 10:00 a.m. Such employees will be granted excused absence (administrative leave) for up to the designated number of hours past their normal arrival time.
An employee who arrives later than the designated number of hours should be charged annual leave for the excess time. For example, if OPM announces a 2-hour delayed arrival policy, and an employee arrives for work 3 hours later than his/her normal arrival time, the employee should be charged annual leave for 1 hour. However, in the case of unusual circumstances or hardship, an agency may determine to grant excused absence for the excess time.
Note: For employees working under flexible work schedules, agencies should consult OPM’s Handbook on Alternative Work Schedules (see information on “Excused Absence” in the “Flexible Work Schedules” section) to determine the “normal arrival and departure times” of employees on flexible schedules. The handbook is available on OPM’s website at http://www.opm.gov/oca/aws/index.htm. Employees under flexible work schedules may also request a change in their work schedules.
Non-emergency employees must notify their supervisor of their intent to use unscheduled leave or unscheduled telework. They may-
Use annual leave, earned compensatory time off, earned credit hours, or leave without pay; or
As permitted by their agency’s policies, procedures, and collective bargaining agreements, telework from home on a non-telework day, if the employee has a telework agreement in place that is approved for unscheduled telework.
Non-emergency employees may request sick leave if they meet the qualifying conditions under law, OPM regulations, and follow their agency’s policies and procedures.
Employees scheduled to telework on the day of the announcement are expected to begin telework on time or request unscheduled leave.
Emergency employees are expected to report to their worksite on time unless otherwise directed by their agencies.
