ACN 123/19 - OCT 2019 WEATHER AND SAFETY LEAVE FOR CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES

ALCOAST COMMANDANT NOTICE                         CANCEL DATE  09 OCT 2020

R 101121 OCT 19
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-12//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS //N12630//
ACN 123/19
SUBJ:  WEATHER AND SAFETY LEAVE FOR CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES
A. Section 1138, Public Law 114-328
B. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) CPM 2018-09, Issuance of Weather and Safety
Leave Regulations
C. OPM Governmentwide Dismissal and Closure Procedures, November 2018
D. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 101516 NOV 16/ACN 406/16
E. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 052048Z FEB 14/ALCOAST 046/14
F. Coast Guard Telework Program, COMDTINST 5330.4 (series)
1. This ACN provides information regarding issuance of the final regulations to
implement the weather and safety leave provision of REF (A) for all civilian
employees, and implement the corresponding electronic timekeeping changes in webTA
for civilian employees. Weather and safety leave is a form of administrative leave
authorized under REFs (A)-(C). It will generally be used in conjunction with an
operating status announcement issued by OPM, Federal Executive Boards (FEBs) or an
agency. Please note, REF (C) applies government-wide and is no longer limited to the
Washington, D.C. area.
2. Under REFs (A)-(C), agencies may grant weather and safety leave when it is
determined that employees cannot travel safely to or from, or perform work, at their
normal worksite, telework site, or other approved location because of severe weather
or another emergency situation.
    a. Leave: An agency may grant weather and safety leave only if employees are
prevented from safely traveling to or performing work at an approved location due
to an act of God, a terrorist attack, or another condition that prevents an employee
or group of employees from safely traveling to or safely performing work at an
approved location. Weather and safety leave will apply when offices are closed for a
full or partial workday (i.e., delayed arrival or early dismissal is announced).
Civilian employees on pre-approved leave or other paid time off may not receive
weather and safety leave. Periods of paid leave include annual and sick leave,
credit hours, compensatory time off, and time off award hours. Civilian employees
requesting weather and safety leave, must code their timecard in webTA by using
leave type: “Admin/Excused Absence” and transaction type: “Weather and Safety
Leave.” The option to use the descriptor “hazardous weather” was discontinued in
webTA. Employees should note the announced operating status in the remarks field.
Bargaining unit employees must refer to the appropriate negotiated agreement.
    b. Telework-ready Employees: Under the new statute and procedures, weather and
safety leave will, in most circumstances, not be granted to an employee who is
telework-ready and able to safely perform telework at home. Consistent with REF (F),
this provision will apply regardless of what is stated (or not stated) in the
telework agreement, and applies to both routine and situational telework. Bargaining
unit employees must refer to the appropriate negotiated agreement. During
emergencies when the office is closed, or a delayed arrival or early dismissal is
announced, employees teleworking are expected to work their regular work schedule.
Telework-ready employees should be prepared to perform offline tasks in the event of
network connectivity issues. Offline tasks must be prearranged with the supervisor.
3. Because employees participating in a telework program are typically able to
safely perform work at their approved locations (e.g., their homes), these employees
will generally not be granted weather and safety leave, consistent with paragraph
2.b. above. The new regulations provide that weather and safety leave is not granted
if conditions could have been reasonably anticipated and employees did not take
reasonable steps within their control to prepare to perform telework. If employees
could not reasonably have anticipated conditions, such as a power outage, and thus
were not prepared to telework, supervisors may grant weather and safety leave on a
case-by-case basis. Telework-ready employees who are not granted weather and safety
leave must either telework for the entire workday, request to use personal leave
(e.g., annual, accrued compensatory time-off, accrued credit hours etc.) or use a
combination of telework and leave. Leave without pay may also be approved.
4. OPM has updated REF (C) to incorporate the new weather and safety leave
regulations. The guidance in this ACN is applicable to all USCG civilian employees.
5. Additional information, including a link to the most recent OPM dismissal and
closure guidance, is available on the Civilian Human Resources Leave webpage:
www.dcms.uscg.mil/leave. Information about the Coast Guard telework program can be
found at the following link:
https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/Assistant-Commandant-for-Human-Resources-
CG-1Civilian-Human-Resources-Diversity-and-Leadership-Directorate-CG-12/Civilian-HR/
Benefits/Telework/.
6. Questions regarding leave and work schedule flexibilities may be directed to your
servicing Civilian Human Resources Specialist:
https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/Assistant-
Commandant-for-Human-Resources-CG-1/Civilian-Human-Resources-Diversity-and-
Leadership-Directorate-CG-12/Civilian-HR/Contact-CG-121/.
7. Released by Ms. Michelle R. Godfrey, Director, Civilian Human Resources,
Diversity & Leadership.
8. Internet release is authorized.