Feds Encouraged to Telework During Nuclear Security Summit in Late March

The Office of Personnel Management on Monday encouraged agencies in Washington, D.C., to allow their employees to telework during a large nuclear security summit at the end of March.

The summit will bring together leaders from 50 countries and four international organizations in downtown Washington on March 31 and April 1, causing traffic congestion and affecting mass transit as well, OPM said in a memo to agency human resources officials. “Federal employees who work in downtown D.C. should expect significant commuting delays and travel disruptions,” the memo stated.

Agencies should let employees telework to the extent possible for the two days of the summit, or allow them to use other flexibilities such as alternative work schedules, annual leave, leave without pay or compensatory time off, OPM acting Director Beth Cobert said. This will allow security officials and law enforcement officers to do their jobs without distraction, as well as help reduce congestion, she said.

Federal employees who can’t work from home should allow extra time for their commute and check for announcements of street closures on local media, OPM said. Click here for more information about the summit, and here for information about street closures. 

(Image via Bohbeh / Shutterstock.com)