November 16, 1998
MEMORANDUM FOR HEADS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND
AGENCIES
FROM: |
JANICE R. LACHANCE
DIRECTOR
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SUBJECT: |
Washington, DC, Area
Emergency Dismissal or Closure Procedures
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With winter almost here, it is time to get prepared for possible weather emergencies
in the Washington, DC, area. With this in mind, we are reissuing the "Washington,
DC, Area Emergency Dismissal or Closure Procedures."
The business of the Federal Government is vital to serving the
public everywhere. Therefore, we will make a determined effort to
avoid the widespread curtailment of public services in the
Washington, DC, area by asking agencies to allow more general use
of unscheduled leave, so that employees who truly find it
impossible or unsafe to make it to work or who arrive late can
use annual leave or leave without pay. On those days that we do
not declare an unscheduled leave policy, supervisors should be
sensitive to the fact that localized weather and road conditions
may preclude some employees from safely commuting to work, and
should grant unscheduled annual leave or leave without pay to
such workers.
We ask Federal agencies to comply with the attached procedures,
which were developed in consultation with the Metropolitan
Washington Council of Governments. Agencies should avoid
independent action, because any changes in the working hours of
Federal employees in this area must be coordinated carefully with
municipal and regional officials in order to minimize disruption
of the highway and mass transit systems.
You may consult a special phone line to hear a recorded message
on the current weather status and/or the status of Government
operations. If you are a new member of the Interagency Advisory
Group, please call Charles Kawecki on (202) 606-2166 to arrange
access to the system. Announcements of the current operating
status will be available on OPM's home page (click on the
penguin). We also recommend that Federal Executive Boards and
Federal Executive Associations nationwide follow this approach.
Last Modified: 3:38:05 PM on Wednesday, August 20, 2003
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