Washington-Area Agencies Reopen Tuesday on Two-Hour Delay

Federal agencies in the Washington area are open on Tuesday, and operating on a two-hour delay, the Office of Personnel Management announced Monday night.

Employees can choose to take unscheduled leave or unscheduled telework. Those reporting to work should plan to arrive no more than two hours later than they would typically arrive. Emergency employees and those who telework are expected to begin work at their usual time.

Federal offices in the region were closed on Monday because of a late winter snowstorm that blanketed the area. It was the fourth time during the 2013-2014 winter that OPM has closed agencies in the metropolitan region because of inclement weather.  

Here’s the full announcement from OPM: 

Federal agencies in the Washington, DC, area are OPEN under 2 hours DELAYED ARRIVAL and employees have the OPTION FOR UNSCHEDULED LEAVE OR UNSCHEDULED TELEWORK. Employees should plan to arrive for work no more than 2 hours later than they would be expected to arrive.

Non-Emergency Employees who report to the office will be granted excused absence (administrative leave) for up to 2 hours past their expected arrival time. In accordance with their agency's policies and procedures, subject to any applicable collective bargaining requirements, non-emergency employees may notify their supervisors of their intent to use:

1.     earned annual leave, compensatory time off, credit hours, or sick leave, as appropriate;

2.     leave without pay;

3.     their alternative work schedule day (AWS) off or rearrange their work hours under flexible work schedules; or

4.     unscheduled telework (if telework-ready).

(Employees who request unscheduled leave should be charged leave for the entire workday.)

Telework-Ready Employees who are regularly scheduled to perform telework or who notify their supervisor of their intention to perform unscheduled telework must be prepared to telework for the entire workday, or take unscheduled leave, or a combination of both, for the entire workday in accordance with their agency's policies and procedures, subject to any applicable collective bargaining requirements.

Pre-approved Leave. Employees on pre-approved leave for the entire workday or employees who requested unscheduled leave for the entire workday should be charged leave for the entire day.

Emergency Employees are expected to report to their worksite on time unless otherwise directed by their agencies.