OPM has announced updated dismissal and closure procedures for the Washington, DC area as the 2013 – 2014 winter season gets underway; while the guidance specifically addresses only that region, it is used as a benchmark for decisions elsewhere, typically made by local federal executive boards.
OPM said its operating status announcements must be accompanied by specific agency procedures, as reflected in employee telework agreements, and/or collective bargaining agreements.
Agencies must communicate expectations to their employees in written policies and procedures, subject to any applicable collective bargaining responsibilities, and expectations must be made clear in continuity or operations plans, as well as written telework agreements, in compliance with the Telework Enhancement Act of 2010, according to a December 5 announcement.
It noted that unscheduled telework has become a standard human HR tool in the procedures, and said agencies must continue to expand their usage of telework.
The status announcements apply to employees working in all Executive agencies and in the event of an area-wide work disruption, agencies should avoid taking independent action, OPM said.
However, it added that agencies possess the authority to release employees and/or close individual facilities to the public on a localized, building-by-building basis, and should exercise this authority during localized emergencies such as a building fire or limited flooding.
Bookmark: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/snow-dismissal-procedures/current-status.
