Personnel agency tries to get out ahead of winter weather

Federal employees in the Washington area will be able to take unscheduled leave or work from home on Tuesday, according to the Office of Personnel Management.

In advance of winter storms expected to hit late Monday, OPM is encouraging managers and employees to consider telework as an option. Federal workers also could be under a delayed arrival depending on the conditions. According to OPM Director John Berry, the agency is waiting for updates from the National Weather Service and might not make a decision until early Tuesday morning.

"Our information is reliable enough to know that it will be an ugly commute both in and potentially out," Berry said in an interview with Government Executive. "We're announcing that today for tomorrow so people can plan and work with their managers."

Though storms could last for several days, Berry said he won't make any decisions about Wednesday's operating status until Tuesday. He was heavily criticized when last week's storm resulted in long commutes for many employees. But by notifying workers in advance of the storm, telework-eligible employees should be able to continue those arrangements through Wednesday, he said.

"Each week we try to learn, we try to get better," he said. "Any time we can get information out and give people more choices …we're trying to keep good communication open."

Government workers in other areas of the country also are expecting snowstorms this week. Individual Federal Executive Boards coordinate dismissal and closure policies in major metropolitan centers outside Washington. According to Berry, OPM will be holding a conference call on Monday afternoon to ensure FEB staff members are prepared for the storms.

In the Chicago area, the Emergency Preparedness and Advisory committee is meeting on Monday afternoon to determine Tuesday's operating status and will notify agency heads via e-mail and automated telephone message, said spokeswoman Veronica Leyva. The decision also will be available on the FEB website. Agency supervisors can decide on an alternative plan for employees, though they are advised to consider the committee's recommendations.

According to Cindy Hillman, executive director of the Greater Kansas City, Mo., Federal Executive Board, each agency has the primary responsibility for its employees because the FEB covers such a large geographic area. But the region could be open under unscheduled leave or telework with a possible early dismissal on Tuesday and late arrival on Wednesday, she said.

"The new policies of unscheduled leave and telework are really helping us," Hillman said.

OPM in December 2010 announced new operating status guidelines. The revised policy had its first test just days later due to snowy conditions in the Washington area.

CORRECTION: The original version of this story had the wrong title for Cindy Hillman. She is executive director of the Greater Kansas City, Mo., Federal Executive Board.