Snow-day telework rules loosen up OPM also changes terminology for closures • By • Dec 15, 2010 Just in time for the snow showers expected this week, the Office of Personnel Management announced a new telework policy for federal workers who are unable to commute to work due to severe weather or other emergencies. Silvercrest Web Camera Driver 12021 Washington there. Under the policy, all federal employees with telework agreements will be eligible to participate in an “unscheduled telework” option when they can’t make it to the office. Federal agencies will still be able to exercise their authority to provide an excused absence to telework employees on a case-by-case basis (for childcare issues or power outages, for example) when employees are instructed to work on days when federal offices are closed, according to OPM.

Related coverage: Labor groups praised OPM’s new policy for giving federal workers the flexibility to working from home, if offices are inaccessible, and prevents them from having to use annual leave when the government declares a delayed arrival, early departure or closure. During the major snowstorms in the winter of 2009-2010, many stranded feds stayed productive teleworking, but others were forbidden to due to inflexible office policies. John Palguta, vice president for policy at the Partnership for Public Service, said the new policy also “demonstrates the value of technology in allowing the work of the government to proceed even in bad weather.” The new telework policy comes a week after President Barack Obama signed the Telework Enhancement Act into law. The law requires all executive agencies establish telework policies and provide telework programs for all eligible employees within 180 days. It also calls for teleworkers to sign a written agreement establishing specific work agreements.