Today, in part in response to feedback from EPA union representatives including NTEU Chapter 280, EPA's Office of Mission Support (OMS) announced that it has waived several of the existing limitations on flexible work schedules to increase the options available to EPA employees working from home during the coronavirus pandemic. 

Specifically, OMS has extended regular tour of duty hours and waived core hours for flexible schedules. This waiver only applies to flexible schedules (e.g., Maxiflex, gliding, flexitour, etc.) and not fixed scheules (e.g., compressed, straight 8).  Regulations provide that employees on fixed schedules must work between 6:00am – 6:00pm, so these flexibilities are not available to those employees at this time. However, employees may request to change from a fixed schedule to a flexible schedule, consistent with the applicable policy or collective bargaining agreement for their position. 

The details of the waiver are as follows:

• Employees on flexible schedules are now permitted to work between the hours of 5:00 am – 11:30 pm.

• Core hours for all flexible schedules are waived. This allows employees on flexible schedules to take unpaid breaks during the day to account for individual needs (such as child care). 

• Employees are now permitted to work additional hours in the evening to make up for breaks during the day.

• Employees who require more breaks during their day must keep track of all hours worked (time in/out) and send an accounting of their hours worked to their supervisor at their supervisor’s request. 

• Hours worked between 6:00 PM and 6:00 AM will be at the employee’s election and therefore hours worked voluntarily during this timeframe are not eligible for premium pay.

• This waiver is temporary and will expire when the Agency determines that this waiver is no longer necessary to respond to the COVID-19 communicable disease. 

The agency will be posting a formalized version of this waiver on EPA’s internal webpage about the coronavirus in the near future.

NTEU Chapter 280 will continue to push for the rights, benefits, and flexibilities EPA employees deserve and need. Your health and safety and that of your families are our priority. On behalf of the board and stewards, we wish you all the best of health and wellbeing during these stressful times.