"EMERGENCY EMPLOYEES" REPLACES INAPPROPRIATE TERMINOLOGY
USED DURING FOUL WEATHER

Washington, D.C. -- The U.S. Office of Personnel Management now will require all federal workers designated by their agencies as "emergency employees" to report for work on time during snow and other emergencies in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. In years past, workers providing emergency services were referred to as "essential employees" and generally included employees in jobs that were vital to public health, safety, welfare, and national defense, or the operation of essential facilities and functions.

Said OPM Director Jim King: "In my book, all federal employees are essential. They provide a variety of vital services on a daily basis. However, what separates people designated as 'emergency employees' is their performance of functions having extraordinary consequence during periods of prolonged or short-term emergency."

The following change in terminology is effective immediately.

During weather emergencies in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, OPM determines federal government closing and personnel policies, and notifies the media. The decision to have federal employees report for work as scheduled, or to implement any one of several work-schedule options, is made generally between 5 a.m. and 5:30 a.m.

Immediately following OPM's decision, news wires and local media are informed of the decision via telephone. OPM will provide one of the following announcements to the media when an emergency occurs before the workday begins.

1.	"Federal agencies are OPEN; employees are expected to report for work on time." (Means federal agencies will open on time, and employees are expected to report for work as scheduled.)
2.	"Federal agencies are operating under an UNSCHEDULED LEAVE policy; employees may take leave without prior approval." (Means federal agencies will open on time, but employees not designated as "emergency employees" may take annual leave or leave without pay (LWOP) without the prior approval of their supervisors. Employees should inform their supervisors of their intentions. Employees designated as "emergency employees" are expected to report for work on time.)
3.	"Federal agencies are operating under a DELAYED ARRIVAL policy: reasonable delays in reporting for work will be excused." (Means federal agencies will open on time, but reasonable delays in reporting for work will be excused without loss of pay or charge to leave for non-emergency employees who experience serious commuting delays. Employees designated as "emergency employees" are expected to report for work on time.)
4.	"Federal agencies are operating under a DELAYED ARRIVAL/UNSCHEDULED LEAVE policy; reasonable delays in reporting for work will be excused, and employees may take leave without prior approval." (Means federal agencies will open on time, but reasonable delays in reporting for work will be excused without loss of pay or charge to leave for non-emergency employees who experience serious commuting delays, and employees not designated as "emergency employees" may take annual leave or LWOP without the prior approval of their supervisors. Employees should inform their supervisors if they plan to take annual leave or LWOP. Employees designated as "emergency employees" are expected to report for work on time.)
5.	"Federal agencies are CLOSED." (Means employees not designated as "emergency employees" are excused from duty without loss of pay or charge to leave. Employees designated as "emergency employees" are expected to report for work on time.)

When weather conditions require the early release of employees during the work day, and when area transportation systems are alerted and prepared for an early rush hour, a Residential Zone Dismissal Plan is put into effect. Under the plan, employees are dismissed in 30-minute intervals, with those living in zones farther from the city being released earlier than those living in zones closer to the city.

Refer questions to OPM's Office of Communications at (202) 606-1800.

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Web page created 2 December 1997