OPM Federal Government Operating Status For Thursday, January 27, 2011: 2 Hour Delayed Arrival Policy

The Federal Government is open for business -- but it's too bad their Facebook status can't say "it's complicated."

With the Washington D.C. metro area getting hammered by snow, the OPM Federal Government Operating Status for Thursday, Jan. 27, 2011 is:

"OPEN under 2 hours DELAYED ARRIVAL and employees have the OPTION FOR UNSCHEDULED LEAVE OR UNSCHEDULED TELEWORK. Employees should plan to arrive for work no more than 2 hours later than they would normally arrive."

D.C. Public Schools and the D.C. Government had already declared themselves CLOSED for Thursday, but federal employees weren't so lucky.

Nobody really seemed to like the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's announcement on Facebook within the first hour of its posting, but some people put a thumbs-up on the comments expressing frustration over OPM's decision.

Gina Menditto Amos didn't seem happy: "I just spent 12 hours on the George Washington Parkway and you want me to go to work today???"

Christal Prout wrote:

Dear OPM, some of us do not have the option for "unscheduled telework". I will travel 3 hours to get to work today, since my normal commute is about 1.5 hours on a good day. I will get there, because I do not have the option to "work from home" and get paid for it. Only when I get there, the staff I support will not be there, because they all have that option - and most live close by. This would be fine a fine decision, if we ALL had the option to sit at home and get paid for the day because we have "unscheduled telework". What a joke.

Before Thursday's announcement, the OPM Facebook page got messages from concerned citizens. Said Angela Renea Waddell, "I hope the Feds are closed tomorrow. I need 1 day off...or two hour delay." Carla Carly Evans asked for a liberal leave, noting, "It should be my choice if I want to risk my life and property getting to work."

Yesterday (Wednesday, Jan. 26), OPM had announced that offices were OPEN but workers "should depart two hours earlier than their normal departure time from work due to impending snow."

Some have been venting to OPM for how it handled Wednesday. Omid Jahanbin wrote, "OPM has shown a complete disregard for the safety of DC area residents by the stunt you have decided to pull today. Instead of having the effective intelligence to call the day off, you have chosen to keep government open until the rush hour."

THE FULL OPM ANNOUNCEMENT FOR THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 2011:

Non-emergency employees are expected to report to their office for work no later than the designated number of hours provided past their normal arrival time. Employees should plan their commutes so that they arrive for work no more than xx hours later than they would normally arrive. For example, if OPM announces a 2-hour delayed arrival policy, employees who normally arrive at 8:00 a.m. must arrive for work no later than 10:00 a.m. Such employees will be granted excused absence (administrative leave) for up to the designated number of hours past their normal arrival time.

An employee who arrives later than the designated number of hours should be charged annual leave for the excess time. For example, if OPM announces a 2-hour delayed arrival policy, and an employee arrives for work 3 hours later than his/her normal arrival time, the employee should be charged annual leave for 1 hour. However, in the case of unusual circumstances or hardship, an agency may determine to grant excused absence for the excess time.

Note: For employees working under flexible work schedules, agencies should consult OPM's Handbook on Alternative Work Schedules (see information on "Excused Absence" in the "Flexible Work Schedules" section) to determine the "normal arrival and departure times" of employees on flexible schedules. The handbook is available on OPM's website at http://www.opm.gov/oca/aws/index.htm. Employees under flexible work schedules may also request a change in their work schedules.

Non-emergency employees must notify their supervisor of their intent to use unscheduled leave or unscheduled telework. They may-

Use annual leave, earned compensatory time off, earned credit hours, or leave without pay; or
As permitted by their agency's policies, procedures, and collective bargaining agreements, telework from home on a non-telework day, if the employee has a telework agreement in place that is approved for unscheduled telework.
Non-emergency employees may request sick leave if they meet the qualifying conditions under law, OPM regulations, and follow their agency's policies and procedures.

Employees scheduled to telework on the day of the announcement are expected to begin telework on time or request unscheduled leave.

Emergency employees are expected to report to their worksite on time unless otherwise directed by their agencies.

Posted on January 27, 2011 at 3:40 AM

Comments

[cybersense]

10:49 AM on 01/27/2011

Oh, the old way we used to do it MN. Never worked well. Get to work late, then let everyone go early at the same time, then no one really works, and sits in terrible traffic and accidents multiply.
 
Hmm, I have to say here that it's not a good plan. Those employees that want to work and are close by should go, but those who you know are going to spend most of their time just trying to get there, then just trying to get home means no work really, and a lot of stupid time spent trying not to get into an accident, or trying to find a way to "hold it" while sitting in non moving traffic.

[bannorhill]

08:11 AM on 01/27/2011

With all the hot air in DC the snow will be gone in no time.

[xzwq]

08:09 AM on 01/27/2011

I remember when snow used to be beautiful and fun. Then the Republicans took it on as an issue, and all it represents now is another reason for the GOP to say, "Welp, more evidence global warming doesn't exist."

[realpolitic]

08:07 AM on 01/27/2011

How much snow does it take to shut down Washington DC? I am from Chicago and we were hardly ever shut down.

[realpolitic]

08:06 AM on 01/27/2011

It is scary to think of someone running out of gas while being stuck in traffic in the deep snow.

[Yve72]

07:02 AM on 01/27/2011

They need to be closed.
My husband left his job in Dc at 4pm and it took him 8 1/2 hours to get home.
This is BS.

[akaSunday]

07:24 AM on 01/27/2011

More faux outrage at the public service sector....OPM's snow policy isn't much different than those of private companies. If an employee has accrued paid time off, why shouldn't he/she be able to use it in this situation? DC was a nightmare last night, talking 6 hours to travel 5 miles.

The same people who complain about public service employees are the same people complaining that their streets haven't been plowed fast enough. Or rant about the federal government taking over while demanding federal dollars to help with snow removal (Chris Christie, I am looking at YOU),

[akaSunday]

07:27 AM on 01/27/2011

This post was actually in reply to mike douglas' below, not Yve72's above. My apologies to the above commenter.

[mike dougles]

06:55 AM on 01/27/2011

dont worry even if they have a snow day they get paid, its great to work in the public sector.

[ThinkTwiceWriteOnce]

07:41 AM on 01/27/2011

A standard the private sector should emulate. When there is a foot of snow on the ground as there is here today and the roads are still a mess, no employer is worth life and limb and the employee should not be penalized because of Mother Nature. This being said, telelwork rules!!!!! And employers should get over their paranoia about it!

[xzwq]

08:07 AM on 01/27/2011

Which is why government should not be allowed to create jobs. Don't want too many people working for a decent wage, with decent benefits. Freeloaders.

[SCboy]

05:52 AM on 01/27/2011

Arrive two hours late, leave two hours early. Sounds like a regular day in DC.

[studmoose]

04:10 AM on 01/27/2011

It looks like another K-Street Sausage Fest will be in the works!

[Bhokara]

03:18 AM on 01/27/2011

It takes three snowflakes to shut DC down (and I don't mean B0.ner, McConnel and Cantor). One on your windshield, one on the windshield of the car in front of you, and one of the windshield of the car in front of him. Instant Beltway gridlock. DC and northern Virginia drivers go out of theirfucking minds if they see a snowflake.

I grew up in central Pennsylvania. School buses had snowploughs on the front of them. 36" of snow overnight was not enough to even delay the opening of school. We had snowfalls up to 5 feet in 48 hours and I don't ever remember getting a "snow day." Schools in the DC area literally close when a weatherman says the word "snow." That's not an exagerration. I remember several times in the last couple years when schools were closed because snow was PREDICTED for that day.

[Carnacamarna]

05:29 AM on 01/27/2011

I always strongly dislike comments like yours. Of course school buses in central PA would be equipped to deal with excessive amounts of snow -- it's because the area REGULARLY deals with snow. Snow like last year and this year do not regularly occur here. Drivers are not used to it. Plows are not in abundance and do not get everywhere. Commuting is a hassle. It would be different if this area was used to, equipped for and accustomed to snow and ice-storms but it's not. It's just that simple.

[MaGavteLaNata]

07:04 AM on 01/27/2011

Last time I checked, your beloved central PA did not have a population of over 5 million people commuting across 2 states and a federal district to get to and from work.

[ThinkTwiceWriteOnce]

07:42 AM on 01/27/2011

Thank you!

[Jaxy]

03:00 AM on 01/27/2011

The snowstorm is pretty d@mn bad. I live about 45 miles north of DC and my usual 30 minute commute took approx. 3 1/2 hours.

But I should not complain. One lady (among many frustrated commutets) called the radio station I was listening to and advised that she'd just spent 5 1/2 hours driving 6 miles ... and she still hadn't got home!

[nationalhealth]

01:20 AM on 01/27/2011

So snow will be the reason nothing is being done in Washington tomorrow, not just the Republicans in the Senate.

[ThinkTwiceWriteOnce]

07:43 AM on 01/27/2011

Simpleton.....

[nationalhealth]

10:30 AM on 01/27/2011

In this case you should have thought twice and written zero.

[hagagaga]

12:55 AM on 01/27/2011

I live right nearby. We got carpet-bombed by Mother Nature.

[Omid Jahanbin]

12:48 AM on 01/27/2011

Thanks HuffPo for giving this lapse by OPM some attention. As the human capital coordinator biggest "employer" in the DC region, OPM's status is followed to a T by many other organizations. They need to get it right every time. As the CEO of a small technology firm, I understand the importance of an effective, available peopleforce but not at the risk of health and property of all. I strongly urge OPM to take into careful consideration each and every time personnel readiness decisions may affect the larger picture, like we've seen today. There is no reason more important than the health and welfare of our most important resource: people.

[Bryan Bethea]

11:35 PM on 01/26/2011

Many, many private employers in the region also tie their operating statuses to the OPM status. It would be nice to have a definitive answer before 5:00 a.m. on the affected day so appropriate plans can be made.

Oh, and DC government IS closed on Thursday. This statement is prominently displayed on dc.gov: "Due to inclement weather, the District Government and District of Columbia Public Schools will be closed Thursday, January 27, 2011. However, all essential office personnel must report."

[DC Isnt closed]

11:42 PM on 01/26/2011

Yup, you're right. However, that just changed and at the time that I wrote my comment, they had declared a two-hour delay and were announcing that on their webpage. The press release is here: http://www.wset.com/Global/story.asp?S=13915314