December 6, 2001 

The President has issued an Executive order excusing Federal employees from duty on Monday, December 24, 2001, except those who, in the judgment of the head of the agency, cannot be excused for reasons of national security, defense, or other essential public business.  For pay and leave purposes, December 24, 2001, will be treated as falling within the scope of statutes and Executive orders governing holidays for Federal employees.

Federal workers have shown remarkable strength and courage throughout the current national emergency in performing their jobs with the utmost professionalism and resolve. In signing the Executive order, the President has recognized the continuing commitment of Federal employees to serve America and has demonstrated his belief that our valued holiday traditions should be carried on in spite of the events on and following September 11th.

Most employees who are excused from duty on December 24th will receive the basic pay they would have received if no Executive order had been issued.  An employee who was previously scheduled to take annual leave on December 24th will not be charged annual leave (or any other form of paid leave, compensatory time off, or credit hours) for that day.  (This policy does not apply to employees who receive annual premium pay for standby duty under 5 U.S.C. 5545(c)(1) or to firefighters who are covered by the special pay provisions of 5 U.S.C. 5545b.)  An employee who is required to work nonovertime hours on December 24th is entitled to holiday premium pay under 5 U.S.C. 5546(b).

For general pay and leave administration instructions, please refer to our fact sheets on:

Federal holidays at http://www.opm.gov/oca/worksch/HTML/HOLIDAY.HTM, compressed work schedules at

http://www.opm.gov/oca/worksch/HTML/AWScws.htm, and flexible work schedules at

http://www.opm.gov/oca/worksch/HTML/awsfws.htm.   

Employees of the U.S. Postal Service and contract employees should contact their supervisor (or contract officer) to obtain information on their pay and leave entitlements for December 24th.

Last Modified: 4:15:34 PM on Thursday, September 04, 2003