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Handbook on Alternative Work Schedules


Alternative Work Schedules Definitions

The definitions in this handbook apply
only to Alternative Work Schedules.

Agency means any executive agency or military department (as defined in 5 U.S.C. 105 and 102, respectively), the Government Printing Office, and the Library of Congress.

Alternative work schedules (AWS) means both flexible work schedules and compressed work schedules.

Basic work requirement means the number of hours, excluding overtime hours, an employee is required to work or to account for by charging leave, credit hours, excused absence, holiday hours, compensatory time off, or time off as an award.

Biweekly pay period means the 2-week period for which an employee is scheduled to perform work.

Collective bargaining, collective bargaining agreement, and exclusive representative have the same meanings given those terms in 5 U.S.C. 7103(a)(12), (8), and (16), respectively, in the case of any unit covered by chapter 71 of title 5, United States Code. In the case of any other unit, the definition of these terms corresponds to those applicable under the personnel system covering that unit.

Compressed work schedule (CWS ) means:

(1) in the case of a full-time employee, an 80-hour biweekly basic work requirement that is scheduled by an agency for less than 10 workdays; and

(2) in the case of a part-time employee, a biweekly basic work requirement of less than 80 hours that is scheduled by an agency for less than 10 workdays and that may require the employee to work more than 8 hours in a day. (See 5 U.S.C. 6121(5).)

Core hours means the time periods during the workday, workweek, or pay period that are within the tour of duty during which an employee covered by a flexible work schedule is required by the agency to be present for work. (See 5 U.S.C. 6122(a)(1).)

Credit hours means those hours within a flexible work schedule that an employee elects to work in excess of his or her basic work requirement so as to vary the length of a workweek or workday.

Employee has the meaning given that term in 5 U.S.C. 2105.

Flexible hours (also referred to as "flexible time bands") means the times during the workday, workweek, or pay period within the tour of duty during which an employee covered by a flexible work schedule may choose to vary his or her times of arrival to and departure from the work site consistent with the duties and requirements of the position. (See 5 U.S.C. 6122(a)(2).)

Flexible work schedule (FWS) means a work schedule established under 5 U.S.C. 6122, that --

(1) in the case of a full-time employee, has an 80-hour biweekly basic work requirement that allows an employee to determine his or her own schedule within the limits set by the agency; and

(2) in the case of a part-time employee, has a biweekly basic work requirement of less than 80 hours that allows an employee to determine his or her own schedule within the limits set by the agency.

Flexitour means a type of flexible work schedule in which an employee is allowed to select starting and stopping times within the flexible hours. Once selected, the hours are fixed until the agency provides an opportunity to select different starting and stopping times.

Gliding schedule means a type of flexible work schedule in which a full-time employee has a basic work requirement of 8 hours in each day and 40 hours in each week, may select a starting and stopping time each day, and may change starting and stopping times daily within the established flexible hours.

Maxiflex schedule means a type of flexible work schedule that contains core hours on fewer than 10 workdays in the biweekly pay period and in which a full-time employee has a basic work requirement of 80 hours for the biweekly pay period, but in which an employee may vary the number of hours worked on a given workday or the number of hours each week within the limits established for the organization.

Organization means an entity within an agency that is headed by an official with the authority to establish tours of duty.

Overtime hours, when used with respect to FWS programs , refers to all hours in excess of 8 hours in a day or 40 hours in a week that are officially ordered in advance, but does not include credit hours. With respect to CWS programs, overtime hours refers to any hours in excess of those specified hours for full-time employees that constitute the compressed work schedule. For part-time employees, overtime hours are hours in excess of the compressed work schedule for a day (but must be more than 8 hours) or, for a week (but must be more than 40 hours).

Prevailing rate employee is defined in 5 U.S.C. 5342(2). These employees are also known as Federal wage employees.

Tour of duty under a flexible work schedule means the limits set by an agency within which an employee must complete his or her basic work requirement. Under a compressed work schedule or other fixed schedule, tour of duty is synonymous with basic work requirement.

Variable day schedule means a type of flexible work schedule containing core hours on each workday in the week and in which a full-time employee has a basic work requirement of 40 hours in each week of the biweekly pay period, but in which an employee may vary the number of hours worked on a given workday within the week within the limits established for the organization.

Variable week schedule means a type of flexible work schedule containing core hours on each workday in the biweekly pay period and in which a full-time employee has a basic work requirement of 80 hours for the biweekly pay period, but in which an employee may vary the number of hours worked on a given workday or the number of hours each week within the limits established for the organization.

Work unit means an entity located in one place with a specific mission, with homogeneous procedures or technology, and headed by a supervisor or manager authorized to approve time and attendance reports and approve leave.

 


Negotiating Flexible and Compressed Work Schedules   |   Compensation Administration