The Office for Personnel Management, the office responsible for setting policy for Federal Employees in the Washington area recently updated its annual policy memo on working in winter weather conditions. Not typically a big news story this year’s policy had less changes in past years except for one small addition that may lead to a disconnect with employees.
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The OPM releases an annual policy memo for Federal Agencies in the Washington area that is meant to be followed for staying open, when to close and how to handle severe winter weather. This policy memo is not only followed by thousands of federal employees however as many institutions, schools and even businesses tend to follow this mandate.
These policies have major impacts across most organizations during winter severe weather as well on the major road and transit systems in the area. As this policy is often used as a resource for other areas and state governments, it can have far reaching effects.
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This policy statement however, only works when all employees and agencies understand and follow the memo. Acting Director Beth Cobert wants all agencies and employees to realize the importance of keeping to the same policy as it can have serious effects if agencies or employees follow their own separate policies.
These policies outline the basic policies for when agencies should open in inclement weather, when to close when severe weather hits and when to remain closed all day. The memo also helps agencies decide which days they can remain open but allow employees to take unscheduled leave, personal leave or to perform unscheduled telework. It can outline the delay in which employees can appear to work to allow extra time to get to work, as well as when to close early to allow safe travel home before a large storm hits. Of course it also outlines an immediate closure procedure as well in emergency weather situations.
Of course these policies are not meant to ever be used for emergency service personnel, whom are meant to work in all weather conditions.
Teleworkers required to keep working
The last major federal employee survey for teleworking completed in 2012 only showed 12% of workers telework. However with improvements in cyber security protocols, more agencies are allowing employees teleworking portions of their employment contracts. As such, the most recent survey has shown 31% of federal employees now participate in teleworking even occasionally.
With such a large portion of the federal employee with the option to work at home during severe weather the OPM has mandated in the memo that “employees that were previously scheduled to telework and those that have teleworking already in their employment agreements should continue to work during these weather situations and not be allowed paid time-off.” They also are encouraging employees that have teleworking in their contracts but not severe weather clauses to work through these situations in any case.
Of course the long term goal for most agencies the OPM is suggesting that any employees that have a telework portion to their employment situation be required to work during these severe weather events. In the end it would help the productivity of the government.
