Microsoft Word - HR Furlough FAQ's Dec 15 2011

December15,2011 1

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Furlough

QuestionsandAnswers

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TheanswerstothesequestionsgenerallyapplytoasituationwheretheAgencyimplementsafurlough

duetoatemporarylapseinappropriations.Thesequestionsandanswersaugmentthoseprovidedin

theOfficeofPersonnelManagement’s(OPM)GuidanceandInformationonFurloughs,whichcanbe

foundat:

http://www.opm.gov/furlough/furlough.asp

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GENERALADMINISTRATION

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1. Whatisafurlough?

Althoughnotoftenusedbyagencies,furloughisameasuremanagersoftendiscussasaremedy

orbudgetshortfalls,emergencies,orlackofwork.Ratherthanpermanentlyseparating

employeesfromanagencyworkforce,thispersonnelactionplacesemployeesintemporary

non‐dutyandnon‐pay

status.

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2. Underwhatauthorityisafurloughtaken?

Therearethreelegalauthoritiesunderwhichafurloughcanbetaken.Furloughsof30calendar

daysorlessarecoveredunderadverseactionproceduresfoundinSubpartDof5CFR752.

Furloughsofmorethan30calendardaysare

coveredunderreductioninforceproceduresfound

inSubpartBof5CFR351.FurloughsforSeniorExecutiveService(SES)membersarecovered

SubpartHof5CFRPart359.Furloughsmayalsobetakenbecauseofasuddenemergency

requiringcurtailmentoftheagency’sactivities;therefore,noadvancenotificationis

possible.

Thecustomary30‐dayadvancenoticeperiodandopportunity toansweraresuspendedunder

theprovisionsof5CFR752.404(d)(2)andinaccordancewith5CFR359.806(a)forSESCareer

appointees.

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3. Whathappenstotimelimitedappointmentsthatexpiredduringafurlough?

Furloughsdonot

extendthetimelimitsfortemporary(5CFR316.401(c))andterm(5CFR

316.301(a))appointments.Ifyouintendtoextend thetimelimitedappointment,itmaybe

extendedpriortothefurloughor,theindividualmaybereappointed afterthefurloughin

accordancewith5CFR316.401(c)or5CFR

316.302(b)(7).

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December15,2011 2

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4. Howcomesomeemployeescontinueworkingwhentheage ncyimplementsafurlough?

UnderguidanceprovidedtheOfficeofManagementandBudgetandtheOfficeofPersonnel

Management,whenanagencyimplementsafurloughduetoatemporarylapsein

appropriationsanagencymayberequired

tomaintainsomelevelofoperationsinordertocarry

outactivitiesrequiredbylawandactivitiestoprotectsafetyofhumanlifeorprotectionsof

property.Theseessentialactivitiesarereferredtoasexceptedactivitiesandrequirepersonnel

tocarryoutthebusinessoftheagency.



5. WillI

receiveadvancewrittennoticeofafurlough?

Notnecessarily.Whileanemployeemustultimatelyreceivea writtennoticeaboutafurlough,it

isnotrequiredthatanoticebegivenbeforethefurloughstarts.OPMdoessaypriorwritten

noticeis“preferable,”butwhenitisnotpossible,thenareasonable

notice–suchaphonecall

orverbalcommunications–isallowed.

6. Whoisexceptedfromafurlough?



"Excepted employees" refers to employees who are excepted from the furlough by law because they are (1)

performing emergency work involving the safety of human life or the protection of property (2) involved in the

orderly suspension of agency operations, or (3) performing other functions exempted from the furlough.

The term “emergency employee” is used to designate those employees who must report for work in

emergency situations, such as severe weather conditions, air pollution, power failures, interruption of public

transportation, and other situations in which significant numbers of employees are prevented from reporting

for work or which require agencies to close all or part of their activities.

Howistimeonafurloughdocumented?

AnSF‐50,“NotificationofPersonnelAction,”mustbepreparedforeachindividualsubjectto

furlough.Afurloughof30calendardaysorlessisprocessedusingNatureofAction472and 

LegalAuthorityCodeVAJ(5U.S.C.75).Areturn‐to‐dutySF

‐50willalsobenecessary(Chapters

15and16ofTheGuidetoProcessingPersonnelActions(GPPA).

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7. CanItakeanotherjobwhilefurloughed?

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Evenwhileonfurlough,youarestillagovernmentemployeeandmuststillabidebyoutside

employmentrules.Accordingtothe“codeofethics”

anemployeeshallnotengagein outside

employmentoranyotheroutsideactivitythatconflicts withhisofficialduties.

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8. ArePresidentialappointeessubjecttoafurlough?

Withlimitedexception(discussedbe low),Presidentialappointeeswhohavebeenconfirmedby

theSenate(PASOfficials)arenotsubjecttofurlough.Thesalaries

ofPASOfficialsare

obligationsthatareincurredbytheyear,withoutconsiderationofhoursofduty.

December15,2011 3

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FormercareerSeniorExecutiveServiceappointeeswhohavetakennon‐careerappointmentsat

levelVoftheExecutiveScheduleorhigherandelectedtoretainSESleavebenefitsunder5

U.S.C.3392(c),aresubjecttofurloughatthediscretionoftheagency.

9. IfIam

onadetailorassignedoutsidemyagency,amIsubjecttoafurlough?

Employeesonareimbursabledetailfr omtheagencywouldnotbesubje cttofurloughdueto

lackoffundsiffullreimbursablecontinued.Ifreimbursementwerereducedoreliminated,the

employeewouldbesubjecttofurlough.Agencies

mayproratetherequiredfurloughtimefor

employeesbeingpaidbytheoutsideorganizationduringolypartofthefurloughperiod.

Federalemployeesassignedtonon‐federalorganizationswhoareonleavewithoutpayfrom

theirfederalpositionsmaycontinueworking.

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LEAVE

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10. Ifanemployeewhoreceivedafurl oughnoticehadpreviouslyscheduledannualorsickleave,

whathappenstothescheduledleave?

Uponfurlough,allscheduledleaveiscanceled(annualleave,sickleave,orother).Absences

duringthefurloughmaynotbecharge dtoleave.TheAntideficiencyAct(31U.S.C.

1341etseq.)

doesnotallowauthorizationofanyexpenditureorobligationbeforeanappropriationismade,

unlessauthorizedbylaw.Paidleavecreatesadebttothegovernmentthatisnotauthorizedby

theAct.Therefore,agenciesareinstructedthatduringalapseinappropriations,allpaidleave

duringa

furloughmustbecanceledandemployees mustbeeither(1)atworkperforming

exceptedactivitiesor(2)f urloughed.



11. Mayemployeeswhoweredesignatedasexcepted* fromthefurloughbegrantedpaidleave?

No.Ifanexceptedemployeeisunavailabletobeatworkandperformthedutiesdeterminedby



theemployingagencytobeallowableactivitiestheemployeemustbefurloughed.Anagency

maysubsequentlyterminatethefurloughiftheemployee’sservicesarestillrequiredfor

exceptedactivitiesfollowingtheabsence.

[*‐Theterm“exceptedemployee”referstoemployeeswhoareexceptedfromafurloughbylaw

becausethey

are(a)performingemergencyworkinvolvingthesafetyofhumanlifeorthe

protectionofproperty,(b)involvedintheorderlysuspensionofagencyoperations,or(3)

performingotherfunctionsexemptedfr omthefurlough.Exceptedemployeeisaseparate

categoryandshouldnotbeconfusedwith“emergencyemployee”,whichis

adesignationfor

thoseemployeeswhomustreportforworkinemergencysituationssuchassevereweather

conditions,powerfailures,interruptionofpublictransportation,andothersituationsinwhicha

significantnumberof employeesarepreventedfromreportingtowork.]

December15,2011 4



12. Ifanemployeewhowouldbefurloughedisonapprovedleavewithoutpay(LWOP)mustthe

LWOPbeterminatedandtheemployeefurloughed?

No.ThestatusofemployeesinLWOPisnotdisturbedunlessthereisindicationthatthe

employeemayreturnfromtheLWOP

duringthefurlough.



13. Cananemployeebeauthorizedpaidleave–i.e.,annual,sick,court,militaryleave–after

receivingafurloughnotice,cantherequestsbedeniedforthosedaysthatcoincidewiththe

datesoffurlough?

Noleaveisauthorizedandinashutdown,allpaid

leaveduringafurloughiscanceledbecause

thenecessitytofurloughsupersedesleaverights.



PAY





14. WillIreceivebackpayfortheperiodoftimeIamsubjecttoafurlough?

It’snotguaranteed.Congresswouldhavetopasslegislationgrantingfederalemployeesthepay

theymissedwhiletheywerefurloughed.Thisiswhathashappenedinthepast.

15. CanIvolunteertowork

unpaidduringafurlough?



No.Unlessotherwiseauthorizedbylaw,anagencymaynotacceptthevoluntaryservicesofan

individual.



16. Arecontractorslocatedonsitealsorequiredtonotreporttowork?Oraretheyallowedto

continuetheirtasks,albeit,withoutgovernmentoversightormonitoring?



Contractors

maynotreportforworkifadeterminationismadethatworkmustceaseonanon‐

exceptedcontract.Youmaynotsuggestthatthecontractorcontinuetowork,allowthemto

volunteertheirservices,orsuggestthatiftheycontinueworkingtheywillbepaidretroactively.

Forfurtherinformation

regardingcontractoroversight,pleaserefertothePAMguidance.



17. HowisanemployeetreatedwhoperformsNationalGuardorReservedutywhilefurloughed?

Isitadualcompensationsituation?

Itisnotadualcompensationsituationbecausefurloughedemployeesarenotinapaystatus.

Theywillbecompensated

bythemilitaryandconti nuedtobecarriedinaLWOP‐USstatus.

December15,2011 5



BENEFITS



FederalEmployeesHealthBenefits(FEHB)



18. Towhatextentdoesnon‐paystatusaffectFederalEmployeeHealthBenefits(FEHB) coverage?



Theemployee'sFEHBcoveragewillcontinueevenifanagencydoesnotmakethepremium

paymentsontime.Sincetheemployeewillbeinanon‐paystatus,theenrolleeshareofthe

FEHBpremium

willaccumulateandbewithheldfrompayuponreturntopaystatus.

TheGovernmentcontributioncontinueswhileemployeesareinanon‐paystatus.The

employeecanchoosebetweenpayingtheagencydirectlyonacurrentbasiswhileinanon‐pay

statusorhavingthepremiumsaccumulateandbe

withheldfromhisorherpay uponreturning

toduty.



19. WhathappensifIchoosetocancelmyFederalEmployeeHealthBenefitscoveragewhileina

non‐paystatusinordertoavoidtheexpense?



Employeesinanon‐paystatusduetoalapseofappropriations(shutdownfurlough )

willnot

havetheopportunitytote rminate orcancelFEHBcoverage.Theemployeewillremaincovered;

theenrolleeshareoftheFEHBpremiumwillaccumulateandbewithheldfrompayuponreturn

topaystatus.



20. WillanemployeecontinuetobecoveredundertheFEHBprogramiftheagen cy

isunableto

makeitspremiumpaymentsontime?

Yes,theemployee’sFEHBcoveragewillcontinueevenifanagencydoesnotmakethepremium

paymentsontime.

FederalEmployeesGroupLifeInsurance(FEGLI)



21. Towhatextenddoesnon‐paystatusaffectFederalEmployeesGroupLiveInsurancecoverage?

Lifeinsurancecoveragecontinuesfor12consecutivemonthswhileinanon‐paystatuswithout

costtotheemployeeortheagency.Thenon‐paystatusmaybecontinuousoritmaybebroken

byareturntodutyforperiodsoflessthan4consecutivemonths.



December15,2011 6



ThriftSavingsPlan(TSP)



22. Towhatextentdoesnon‐paystatusaffectThriftSavingsPlan(TSP)coverage?

Deductionswillceaseforperiodsofnon‐paystatuswherethereisinsufficientfundstocoverthe

ThriftSavingsPlan(TSP)premium(s).Employeescannotcontribute totheirTSPaccountwhile

onfurlough.Employeesshouldreferto

theTSPFactSheet–EffectofNon‐payStatusonTSP

Participation.Thefactsheetcanbefoundathttp:// www.tsp.gov/forms/oc95‐4w.pdf

.





23. CanIobtainaloanfrommyTSPaccountwhileinanon‐paystatus?

ATSPparticipantmaytakealoananytimepriortoseparationandbeconsideredforeligibility

whilefurloughed.Ashort‐termbreakinpaystatuswouldstillallowparticipantstocommence

payment

bypayrolldeductionwithintherequired60daysoftheloanissuedate.Ifashutdown

weretoextendbeyond60days,participantswouldstillberesponsibleformakingloan

payments.FormoreinformationonTSPLoans,employeesshouldrefertotheTSPFactSheet–

EffectofNon‐pay

StatusonTSPparticipation,http://www.tsp.gov / forms/oc95‐4w.pdf.



FlexibleSpendingAccount (FSA)



24. Towhatextentdoesnon‐paystatusaffectFlexibleSpendingAccount(FSA)coverage?

Incurredeligiblehealthcareexpenseswillnotbereimburseduntiltheemployeereturnstoa

paystatusandtheallotmentsaresuccessfullyrestarted(inwhichcasetheallotmentswouldbe

recalculatedovertheremainingpaype riodstomatchtheemployee’sannualelectionamount).

Eligibledependentcareexpensesincurredduringanon‐paystatusmaybereimbursedupto

whateverbalanceisintheemployee'sdependentcareaccount‐aslongastheexpenseincurred

duringthenon‐paystatusallowstheemployee(orspouseifmarried)towork,lookforworkor

attendschoolfull‐time.Oncedependentcareallotmentsaresuccessfullyrestarted,remaining

allotmentswouldberecalculatedovertheremainingpayperiodstomatchtheemployee’s

annualelectionamount.

LongTermCare(LTC)



25. Towhatextentdoesnon‐paystatusaffectLongTermCare(LTC)coverage?

Deductionsceasewhenintheemployeeispla cedinanon‐paystatusandthereareinsufficient

fundstocoverthepremium(s).InorderforemployeestocontinueLongTermCare(LTC)

coverage,theemployeemust

makepaymentswhileinanon‐paystatus.VisittheLTCwebsite,

https://www.ltcfeds.com/documents

formoreinformation.



December15,2011 7



FederalEmployeesDentalandVisionI nsura nce Plan(FEDVIP)



26. Towhatextentdoesnon‐paystatusaffectFederalEmployeesDentalandVisionInsurance

Plan(FEDVIP)coverage?



Deductionsceasewhenintheemployeeispla cedinanon‐paystatusandthereareinsufficient

fundstocoverthepremium(s).BENEFEDSwillgenerateabilltoemployeesfo r premiums

when

nopaymentisreceivedfortwoconsecutivepayperiods.Inorderforemployeestocontinue

FEDVIPcoverage,theemployeemustmakepaymentswhileinanon‐paystatus.

VisittheFEDVIPwebsite,http://www.opm.gov/insure/DentalVision

formoreinformation.



RetirementCoverage



27. Towhatextentdoesnon‐paystatusaffectretirementcoverage?

Retirementcoveragecontinuesforupto6monthsforperiodsofwherefederalemployeesare

normallyinanon‐paystatuspercalendaryear.



UNEMPLOYMENTCOMPENSATION



28. IfIamfurloughedamIeligibletoreceiveunemploymentcompensation(UC)benefits.Isthe

UCclaimbasedonthestatewhereyoulive,orwhereyouwork?



UCclaimsarebasedonthestateinw hichtheworkwasperformed(thisdoesnotinclude

overseasemployees).



29. Are

HumanResourcesOffices require dtoprovidefurloughedFederalemployeeswithanSF‐8,

NoticetoFederalEmployeeaboutUnemploymentCompensationInsurance?



FederalagenciesarerequiredtoprovideemployeeswithanSF‐8iftheywillbeinanon‐duty

statusforsevenormoredays.Stateunemploymentcompensationrequirements

differ.

EmployeesshouldsubmittheirquestionstotheappropriateStateoffice.



December15,2011 8



30. Isinformationavailableastowhatthestatesrequirebeforeprocessingaclaimfor

unemploymentbecauseofafurlough?

Yes.ThelistbelowgivesWebsitesorinstructionsforeachstatewhenfilinganinitialclaimfor

unemployment;differentproceduresoftenapplywhenfilingclaims

foradditionalbenefits.You

shouldalsonotethatKentuckyhasaWebsite–at

http://www.oet.ky.gov/des/ui/staterefguide.asp

‐thatlistsstateWebsites,plustelephone

numbers,forabout40states.

Alabama–http://dir.alabama.gov/uc/Claims/default.aspx

Alaska–http://www.labor.state.ak.us/esd_unemployment_insurance/biff‐splash.htm

Arizona–https://www.azdes.gov/esa/pdf/UIB‐1015APAMNA.pdf

Arkansas–

http://www.accessarkansas.org/esd/WorkersUnempBenefits/pdf/PDF501_BLANK.pdf

California–https://eapply4ui.edd.ca. gov/ 

Colorado–

https://wwws.coworkforce.com/ucontinuedclaims/default.asp?ci=0&ps=0&er=0&li=e

Connecticut–https://iic.ctdol.state.ct.us/

Delaware–filethroughpersonalapplicationonly.Informationisat

http://www.delawareworks.com/Unemployment/forms/ui_guide‐ver0307.pdf

Districtof

Columbia–https://does.dcnetworks.org/InitialClaims/

Florida–https://www2.myflorida.com/apps/uc/fluid/

Georgia–http://www.dol.state.ga.us/js/unemployment_benefits_individuals.htm

Hawaii–filebyphoneonly,bycalling808643‐5555.Informationisat

http://hawaii.gov/labor/ui/pdf/STEP‐BY‐STEPS/claim a nt_process.pdf

Idaho–http://cl.idaho.gov/IW/UIClaim/Main.asp?strMen u=FILECLAIM

Illinois–http://www.ides.state.il.us/individual/certify/default.asp

Indiana–https://uplink.in.gov/CSS

Iowa–http://www.iowaworkforce.org/ui/file1.htm#1

Kansas–https://www.uibenefits.dol.ks.gov/default.asp

Kentucky–http://www.kewes.ky.gov/

Louisiana–https://laors.laworks.net/laclaims/website/

Maine–

https://portalxw.bisoex.state.me.us/mics/

Maryland–electronicfilingnotpermittedifemployeeworkedfortheFederalgovernmentin

thepast18months.Filebyphoneat410949‐0022intheBaltimorearea,or1800827‐4839

outsidetheBaltimorearea.Informationisat

http://www.dllr.state.md.us/employment/ui/index.html

Massachusetts–initialclai mbyphoneor

inpersononly.Filebyphoneat1877626‐6800from

Massachusetts,617626‐6800outsideMassachusetts.Informationisat

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=dlwdconstituent&L=2&L0=Home&L1=Claimants&sid=Edwd

Michigan–http://www.michigan.gov/uia/0,1607,7‐118‐‐77962‐‐,00.html

Minnesota–http://www.uimn.org/ui/webclaim.htm

Mississippi–http://mdes.ms.gov/wps/PA_1_0_CH/docs/UnemploymentInsurance/UI‐501.pdf‐

formmustthenbebroughtinpersontoaMississippiJobCenter

December15,2011 9



Missouri–https://www.ui.dolir.mo.gov/som/

Montana–https://app.mt.gov/ui4u/index

Nebraska–https://uibenefits.nwd.ne.gov/BPSWeb/jsp/BPSClaimantWelcome.jsp

Nevada–http://www.ui.nvdetr.org/UI_Agreement.html

NewHampshire–https://claims.nhes.state.nh.us/weblogic/Welcome

NewJersey–https://wnjpin.state.nj.us/cont/index.html

NewMexico–http://www.dws.state.nm.us/

NewYork–https://ui.labor.state.ny.us/UBC/home.do?FF_LOCALE=1

NorthCarolina–https://www.ncesc.com/individual/webInitialClaims/applyBegin.asp 

NorthDakota–https://secure.apps.state.nd.us/jsnd/uiiaclaims/login.htm

Ohio–http://unemployment.ohio.gov/

Oklahoma–https://unemployment.state.ok.us/instructions.asp?x=n

Oregon–

https://ssl6.emp.state.or.us/ocs4/ic/begin.cfm?u=20071204A073631B24227692.2816&lang=E



Pennsylvania–https://www.paclaims.state.pa.us/UCEN/ 

PuertoRico–filebyphoneonly,bycalling1‐888‐238‐8889

RhodeIsland–https://uiclaims.state.ri.us/RI‐ICS/Intro/index.aspx?AC=yes

SouthCarolina–http://www.sces.org/ui/claimant/index.htm

SouthDakota–

https://www.state.sd.us/Applications/LD70UIbp/Secure/LD70initialClaims/MainICI.asp

Tennessee–https://www.tennesseeanytime.org/labor/uib/index.html 

Texas–http://www.twc.state.tx.us/ui/uiclaim.html

Utah–http://jobs.utah.gov/ui/WebInitialCubs/Welcome.aspx

Vermont–filebyphoneonly,bycalling1‐877‐214‐

3330.Informationisat

http://www.labor.vermont.gov/Unemployed/tabid/109/Default.aspx

Virginia–http://www.vec.virginia.gov/vecportal/seeker/jslogin.cfm

VirginIslands–fileinpersononly.Contactinformationislistedat

http://www.vidol.gov/OP/Contact.htm

Washington–http://www.wa.gov/esd/ui/icapp/_starticappen.htm

WestVirginia–http://www.wvuc.org/

Wisconsin–https://ucclaim‐wi.org/Int ernetInitialClaims/InfoBasicRequirements.asp

Wyoming–http://wyui.doe.state.wy.us/

*Ifanyofthelinksareunavailable,pleasecontactyourservicingHumanResourcesOffice.



31. IheardthatemployeeswhoarelowerthanaGrade9Step5wouldnotberequiredtopay

backUCbenefitsiftheyarelaterpaidforthefurloughperiod.Isthiscorrect?



No.ThedecisiononwhetherornotemployeeswouldhavetopaybackUCbenefits

wouldbe

decidedbyeachSESAbasedontheirUClaw.Overpaymentrequirementsapplytoall

employeesforaparticularstate,regardlessoftheirgradeorsalary.



December15,2011 10



32. CanexceptedemployeesfileaUCclaim,sincetheyarenotgettingpaid?

No.ExceptedemployeescannotfileaUCclaim,sincetheyarenotunemployed.Inaddition,in

ordertoreceiveUCbenefits,youmustbeableandavailabletoacceptwork.Excepted

employees

wouldnotmeetthisrequirementsincetheyarealreadyworking.



INJURYCOMPENSATION



33. IfanemployeewasinreceiptofFECAwage‐losscompensationandwasthenfurloughed,what

effectwouldthefurloughhaveonhis/hercompensation?

None.FECAwage‐losscompensationisnotconsideredwagesand,therefore,isnotaffectedby

alackoffundingattheemployingagency.



34. If

anemployeesustainsatraumaticinjuryatworkandbeginstoreceivecontinuationofpay

(COP)whathappenstotheCOPwhenheisfurloughed?

Whenemployeesarefurloughed duetoalapseinappropriations,thereisnolegalauthorityto

payCOPoranysimilarpayment.However,lapsedappropriations

donotabrogatethe

employee’sentitlementtoCOPinanyway.Therefore,althoughCOPmaybesuspendedduring

afurloughcausedbylapsedappropriati ons,retroactivepaymentismandatoryoncefundinghas

beenappropriated.Oncethefurloughbegins,COPisplacedinabeyancependingthe

resumptionoffunding.Whenfundingisavailable

anyremainingCOPentitlementmustbepaid

onaretroactivebasis.TheDepartmentofLaborrecognizesthattheycannotforceanagencyto

makepaymentsofsalarytofurloughedemployeeswhentheagencyhasnofundstolegallydo

so.IfCongressdoesnotdecidetopayfurloughedemployeesfor

thedaysoff,COPwouldstill

havetobepaidretroactivelyunder5U.S.C.8118.



EMPLOYEERELATIONS



35. Whatinformationshouldbeincludedinthenoticeofdecisionwhennoadvancenoticeis

issued?

Thenoticemustspecifythereasonforthefurloughandstatethattheusual30calendardays

advancenoticewasnotpossibleduetotheemergencyrequiringcurtailmentofagency

operations.Thereare

otherreasonsanemployeemaynotbefurloughed.Thenoticemust

includeastatementofapplicableappealandgrievancerights.Youareremindedthatadverse

actioncoverageforexceptedserviceemployeeswassubstantially expandedbytheCivilService

December15,2011 11



DueProcessAmendmentsof1990(P.L.101‐376).IfacopyoftheMeritSystemsProtection

Boardappealformisnotattachedtothedecisionnotice,thelinkandinformationaboutappeals

shouldincludeinformationonhowtoobtainacopyoftheform.



36. What

appealrightsdoIhaveifIamfurloughed?



AfurloughedemployeemayappealthefurloughtotheMeritSystemsProtectionBoardor

underanegotiatedgrievanceprocedure(NGP)ifapplicable,butnotboth.

