Many offices at Headquarters have adopted the use of alternative work schedules (AWS) allowing an employee to have a non-work day during the week or pay period by working other than a standard eight hour schedule. There are two variations which you can request to work. Under the 5/4-9 schedule, each pay period (a two week, 10 work day period) you work nine hours a day for eight days, eight hours for another day, and have the tenth day off. Under the 4-10 schedule, you work ten hours a day for four days each week (eight ten hour days in a pay period). Work days for either work schedule will commence no earlier than 6:30 a.m. and end no later than 6:00 p.m.
The use of AWS is subject to meeting the business needs of your office. You may be denied an AWS schedule if your position requires that you be present every day, or you may be denied a particular day off because of work requirements or the absence of other employees on the same day. In addition, you may be taken off an AWS schedule temporarily when you are in training, travel or on special assignment.
Participation in AWS is also based on your acceptable performance and attendance. You may not participate in an AWS program if your performance rating is less than a level "2". Further, your supervisor may temporarily remove you from AWS by issuing an "AWS suspension memo" if you have a documented attendance problem.
Any questions about adjusting your work schedule either to AWS , or while under AWS, should be addressed to your supervisor.
The following are highlights from Article 25.02 of the CBA:
- Conflicts caused by workload demands in selecting an AWS "day off" will be resolved by length of Federal service;
- Employer decisions regarding the setting of AWS schedules may be appealed by filing a Step One grievance;
- Employees may temporarily switch their regularly scheduled day off if their leave approving official agrees;
- Employees may request changes in their permanent schedules no more than once per quarter.
For additional information on AWS see Article 25 of the CBA or contact your union steward.
No-one is required to work AWS. At present, over 2/3 of all Headquarters employees are participating in AWS.
It is important, though, that if you want AWS to work, you and your supervisor ensure that your absence doesn't cause problems because there is no one to respond to immediate demands in your stead or because deadlines are missed because you are gone. If necessary, your union representative can meet with management and the Headquarters Employee/Labor Management Relations Services team to work out logistical problems that are interfering with successful AWS.
It is up to you to ensure that you work your full 80 hours per week, even if you are on travel or training. If it appears that you will not be able to work the full 80 hours during a 9-day pay period because the place you are visiting is not open long enough during the day, you may have to "default" back to an 8-hour day for the pay period during which you are in travel or training.