If an employee is officially ordered to authorized to evacuate a location, it says, the agency may authorize advance payments, continuation of pay, and payments for travel and subsistence expenses. Image: Tad Denson/Shutterstock.com
By: FEDweek StaffOPM has reminded agencies (in a memo a chcoc.gov) about telework and other workplace flexibilities for disaster situations, as the annual hurricane season is underway.
Telework “continues to play a significant role during emergency situations by enabling a greater number of federal employees to work and supporting continuity of operations. Agencies should continue to promote and incorporate telework into their agency emergency planning,” it says.
An agency may grant weather and safety leave when it has determined that employees cannot safely travel to, or perform work at, their normal worksite, a telework site, or other approved location because of severe weather or another emergency situation. That normally does not apply to teleworkers unless the individual is prevented from safely traveling to or working at their approved telework site during severe weather or other emergency situations.
“Agencies may provide weather and safety leave to a telework program participant if, in the agency’s judgment, the employee could not have reasonably anticipated the severe weather or emergency and thus is not prepared to telework. Additionally, agencies may provide weather and safety leave to a telework program participant if the employee is prepared to work at the telework site but is prevented from safely working there due to the severe weather or emergency situation,” it says.
Further, if an employee is officially ordered to authorized to evacuate a location, it says, the agency may authorize advance payments, continuation of pay, and payments for travel and subsistence expenses.
The memo also notes that in the event of a major disaster or emergency as declared by the President, OPM may establish an emergency leave transfer program in which employees may donate annual leave to employees of the same or other agencies who are adversely affected, or have family members who are adversely affected. OPM recently authorized such a program related to certain areas of Texas struck by Hurricane Beryl and there typically are several such authorizations each year.
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