Agencies urged to be flexible with employees who join relief efforts

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, many federal employees are asking what they can do to help.

In the past, the Office of Personnel Management has urged agencies to be creative in rewarding employees who pitch in during times of crisis.

"Federal employees are always generous and responsive in relief and recovery efforts during emergency situations," said OPM Director Linda Springer in July, after Hurricane Dennis made landfall in Florida. "Agency heads should consider all the human resources flexibilities available to them during such difficult periods."

Employees who are called upon to assist in special relief and recovery efforts in affected communities are now eligible for excused absences. That can include employees with special training like emergency medical technicians or those who simply volunteer to pass out water or fill out forms.

Instead of biweekly premium pay limits, federal agencies now can apply annual premium pay limits to employees logging overtime during times of disaster. So volunteers working around-the-clock responding to a hurricane or other natural disaster, receive premium pay and won't max out as quickly.

On Wednesday, the Federal Emergency Management Agency issued a call for 2,000 Homeland Security Department employees to volunteer for two weeks working in hurricane-ravaged areas along the Gulf Coast. Would-be volunteers were warned to be prepared to work outdoors for long hours.