Early Dismissal for Thanksgiving

Date: Wed, 03 Dec 1997 17:03:46 -0500
To: "TK - Time Keepers"<distribution,
        "AO - All Administrative Officers"<distribution
From: "Alice A. Sabatini" <aasabati
Subject: Early Dismissal for Thanksgiving
Cc: "A  - Division Chief and Staff"<distribution,
        "B  - Branch Chiefs and Offices"<distribution,
        "DC - All District Chiefs"<distribution

Date: Wed, 03 Dec 1997 14:52:19 -0500
To: " Division Ao'S,  , " <division_aos@igsrsparc4.er.usgs.GOV,
        " Human Resources committee , " <hr_com@igsrsparc4.er.usgs.GOV
From: Judy George <jgeorge
Subject: Early Dismissal for Thanksgiving

I don't think Janis' message re: the Thanksgiving dismissal got out to
everybody who needs it, so thought I'd send it to you for distribution
within your organizations as you see fit. . .


Date: Wed, 26 Nov 1997 09:57:53 -0500
To: hro@mailrvao1.er.usgs.GOV
From: Janis Nash <jnash
Subject: Early Dismissal for Thanksgiving

Following and attached are instructions from the Director of Personnel,
Department of the Interior, concerning early dismissal for Thanksgiving in
case you get questions.  If you get any questions you can't answer, please
ask me or Judy George (and we'll check with the Department if necessary).
Thanks.  And Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  Janis

*****************

	November 25, 1997


Memorandum

To:		Bureau Personnel Officers

From:		Carolyn Cohen /s/
		Director of Personnel

Subject:	Early Dismissal for Thanksgiving

In recognition of the outstanding level of service maintained by our
employees, despite significant downsizing, the Secretary has issued a
memorandum allowing Department of the Interior (DOI) employees to leave
three (3) hours early on November 26, 1997.  This three-hour period will be
considered excused absence (also referred to as administrative leave).
This excused absence is subject to mission and workload considerations.
Supervisors should exercise discretion to require critical staff to work
their regular shifts as necessary.

To facilitate the processing of time and attendance for the pay period
which encompasses the Thanksgiving holiday (PP26), please apply the
following guidelines:

	o	All excused absence hours for the early dismissal should be 
coded as "060-Excused Absence"

	o	Employees who are already scheduled to be on leave during this
 period must have their leave, whether annual leave, sick leave, credit hours,
compensatory time, etc., converted to and recorded as excused absence.
There should be no charge to leave or loss of pay during this period.  If
the scheduled leave was "use or lose" leave, employees should be allowed to
reschedule to avoid leave forfeiture.

	o	Supervisors should allow employees to leave early per the
 Secretary's memorandum; however, employees who cannot be excused because of
mission requirements are not entitled to premium pay if the hours of work fall
within the regular tour of duty.  Employees working irregular shifts should
also be excused for three (3) hours in advance of the end of their tour of
duty on November 26, to the extent practical.  If an employee cannot be
released because of a work exigency, the supervisor should reschedule the
three (3) hours of excused absence at a mutually convenient time.

Please disseminate this information immediately, ensuring supervisors and
timekeepers are made aware of these guidelines.  If other issues related to
this matter arise, we will provide further guidance as necessary.  Should
you have any questions or wish to discuss any unique situations as a result
of this excused absence, please feel free to contact John Combs on (202)
208-6754 or Jodi Vargas on (202) 208-7764.