OPM Changes Operating Status For DC Area Federal Employees On Friday

WASHINGTON, DC — All federal offices in the Washington D.C., area will be closed on Friday due to the winter storm expected to pass through the region Thursday, according to an update from the Office of Personnel Management.

National Weather Service issued a winter storm advisory for much of the Washington, D.C. region. Snowfall is expect 9 p.m. Thursday to 7 a.m. Friday, with accumulations of 2-4 inches and more than 5 inches in some areas.

Emergency employees are expected to report to work as usual, unless otherwise directed by their agencies.

Employees who are participating in a telework program, whether doing so regularly or on an ad hoc basis, generally aren't granted weather and safety leave. They are responsible for reporting the hours they work on the day in question, take unschedule leave — either paid or unpaid — or a combination there of, provided they follow all agency policies and any collective bargaining requirements.

Non-emergency employees will receive weather and safety leave equivalent to the hours they were expected to work on Monday.

The following employees will not receive weather or safety leave, according to OPM:

• emergency employees who are required to report for duty;
• telework program participants (with certain narrow exceptions);
• on official travel outside of the duty station;
• on preapproved leave (paid or unpaid) or other paid time off; or
• on an Alternative Work Schedule (AWS) day off or other non-workday.