Participating in a telework program means an employee is eligible to telework and has an established arrangement with his or her organization under which the employee is approved to participate in the telework program, including on a routine or situational basis.

An employee who teleworks on a situational basis is considered to be continuously participating in a telework program even if there are extended periods during which the employee does not perform telework.

Under the Office of Personnel Management’s regulations, telework program participants will be ineligible for weather and safety leave when a closure is announced, except when an exception under 5 CFR 630.1605(a)(2) applies. Telework program employees must telework, take other leave or paid time off, or both, unless an exception applies.

Exceptions

— Unexpected weather. An agency may provide weather and safety leave to a telework-ready employee who, in the agency’s judgment, could not have reasonably anticipated the severe weather or other emergency condition and therefore did not take home needed equipment or work. — Unsafe telework site. An agency may provide weather and safety leave to a telework-ready employee who is prevented from safely working at the telework site as a result of the severe weather or other emergency event.

For more information, call 573.596.0927.

(Editor’s note: This article was submitted to the GUIDON by the Civilian Personnel Advisory Center.)