MD.360.9.4, PER - Emergency Dismissal and Closure Procedures

Maryland Bulletin: 360-9-4
Subject: PER - Emergency Dismissal and Closure Procedures
Date: February 2, 2009

Purpose. To communicate the updated emergency dismissal and closure procedure to Maryland NRCS federal employees.

Expiration Date. September 30, 2009.

Explanation.

This bulletin is an update to the current inclement weather policy. This guidance will replace that policy. An amendment to the General Manual is forthcoming. The following guidelines apply to situations that prevent significant numbers of employees from reporting to work on time or which require the Agency to close all or part of their activities due to hazardous weather conditions defined as "conditions which are unusually severe and disruptive to normal travel or transportation of employees between their homes and their duty stations (hurricanes, cyclones, floods, blizzards, severe snow, or icing on roads)." This policy will also apply for other interruptions in the Service Centers that pertain to disruption of power and/or water, and other emergency situations.

Authorities:

For Service Centers: The local USDA Food and Agriculture Council (FAC) will make the determination for employees located in county offices.

For State Office: The NRCS State Conservationist or designee, and FSA State Executive Director or designee (referred to as the State FAC below), will make the determination for Federal employees. The Anne Arundel NRCS field office will follow State Office closure decisions.

Types of Dismissals/Closures for Hazardous Weather or Emergency Conditions:

• Unscheduled Leave/Liberal Leave: Employees may take their own leave without prior approval
• Adjusted Home Departure/Unscheduled Leave: Employees are requested to leave home a specified number of hours later than their normal departure time and employees may take leave without prior approval.
• Early Dismissal/Administrative Leave: Applies to only employees at work or where an employee was scheduled to return to work on the day of early dismissal.
• Office Closure: Is the act of closing an office and preventing employees from either going to work or staying at work because of an emergency or potential emergency situation.

Managers may authorize employees up to 1 hour of excused absence if the office is open and an employee is unavoidably delayed in arriving for work.

Procedure:

If hazardous conditions exist before regular working hours, the Local and State FAC should utilize local forecasts, County government operation policies, and State and County police and highway department information to make these decisions. Conditions will be discussed by phone and a decision made and posted by 6:15 AM. If the office has an adequate telecommunication system, managers will record a voice message indicating the joint USDA status of office operation (liberal unscheduled leave and/or administrative leave). For information on the state office status, call 443-482-2926. If no information is available at that number, call 443-482-2929. If no voice messaging system is available, managers should contact each employee by telephone by 6:15 AM. Managers will also notify their supervisors/state offices, etc.

Early dismissal decisions should be made by joint decision of the Local and State FAC. All employees should be made aware of this policy and telephone numbers to call.

JON F. HALL
State Conservationist

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