The OPM memo also repeats special guidance, first issued
last year, on the status of employees who telework during
weather or other emergencies.
Says the memo, “One of the major benefits of the telework
program is the ability of telework employees to continue
working at their alternative worksites during a disruption
of government operations. In recognition of the growing
importance of teleworkers in maintaining the continuity
of government operations, agencies may wish to modify
their current policies concerning teleworkers and
emergency closures.
“An agency may wish to require that some or all of its
teleworkers continue to work at their alternative
worksites on their teleworkday or on any of their
regularly scheduled workdays during emergency situations
when the agency is closed. An agency would not have to
designate a teleworker as an emergency employee, but any
requirement that a telework employee continue to work if
the agency closes on his or her teleworkday or on any of
his or her regularly scheduled workdays should be included
in the employee’s formal or informal telework agreement.”
OPM director Kay Coles James said in a statement, “One of
the major benefits of the telework program is the ability
of telework employees to continue working at their
alternative worksites during a disruption of government
operations. In the age of e-government and technology,
there is no reason why agencies cannot maintain their
delivery of services.”
