New York, NY Jan. 2019 - Federal workers protesting the partial government shutdown Image: Christopher Penler/Shutterstock.com
Federal agencies returning from the partial shutdown have been told to keep a focus on their employees, many of whom report that the experience has left them somewhat shell-shocked, while many others continue to experience the kinds of financial strain that caused increasing numbers to ask to be excused from work on grounds that they could not afford even the commuting costs.
With the signing of temporary legislation—through February 15—restoring funding to affected agencies, employees who have been furloughed are now to report for work on their first regularly scheduled work day since the shutdown started December 22.
In a memo, OPM said it “encourages agencies to be as flexible as possible as we get our employees back to work. Due to the length of the lapse, we anticipate that some employees may face extenuating circumstances or personal challenges that impact their ability to return to work on their next workday immediately following the end of the lapse.
Accordingly, we encourage managers to take these individual challenges into consideration, and to the extent possible, provide appropriate flexibility to employees who are facing legitimate difficulties that may delay their return to work.”
Such accommodations may include allowing unscheduled leave and unscheduled telework on much the same terms as is used in weather closing situations. For example, AID has said that such a policy will be in effect through Wednesday.
Also, agencies “have the flexibility to grant limited amounts of excused absence (administrative leave) for nonwork periods after the lapse is over if deemed necessary based on extenuating personal circumstances that delay the employee’s return to duty,” OPM said.
In separate guidance, OMB told agencies that among the many technical considerations — IT and other issues — related to reopening operations, they should consider the “employee morale impacts” and encouraged them to boost communications to employees “to address timely resolution of issues and concerns (e.g., on-site support, town halls, special events, additional support staff, assistance resolving financial implications).”