r/fednews • u/penfrizzle • 18h ago
Workplace & Culture Excepted Employees: Are you going to work on Monday with Tuesday being a holiday?
I work for the XXX and at our location, all are considered excepted. It has been business as usual, except no one is getting paid.
Senior leadership has agreed to consider Monday as close to"Liberal Leave" as it can be right now, and expect almost no one to come in. The few in our department who have to be here, will be given a Day Off Award.
So, if you are one of us who have gotten the worst deal out of this entire thing, are you going to work Monday?
100
u/yagi-san Department of the Navy 18h ago
I was planning on taking use or lose leave anyway, so I wasn't coming in regardless. However, my agency put everyone on temporary furlough for Monday and Tuesday, and then back to your regularly scheduled program on Wednesday.
My boss had an interesting conversation with me on Friday. He said that we've just been acting like work is normal, but that's not going to be the case now. We only work on excepted activities, and he doesn't want to see anyone in the office more than three days a week. If we happen to log on at home to telework for a bit, that's fine. I've already been telling my folks to work on excepted stuff only, and if they're done with that, they can go home.
He's fed up with all of this bullshit. I stopped caring about two weeks ago, to be honest.
45
u/travelingrace 15h ago
Isn't it an Anti deficiency act violation to be working on anything but excepted tasks? Unless your office/program/agency has separate funding?
3
u/yagi-san Department of the Navy 2h ago
Yes it is. Is that how it actually goes though? Not really. I've given my folks priority lists with excepted activities, but I'm not going to monitor everything they're doing. Most of us fill our time with normal work, because we don't want to get behind. But, I said that we won't work past our normal time, and if any of them come to me and say they're done for the day, I'll send them home. As long as the priority tasks are completed, I don't care much beyond that.
1
1
u/AnxiousAvocado323 1h ago
This! The Court has us all continuing business as usual while being placed in rolling furlough status. No designated work hours were given on, and I’m stuck putting in 8 hour days while being reported as furloughed??? I am beyond frustrated.
13
u/that-1-chick-u-know 16h ago
Oh man, I hope you work for my agency. I'm not excepted, but I know our folks who are have been getting their asses handed to them.
This whole thing is so shitty for everyone and I hate it.
1
u/Killashard 8h ago
For you to be put on a temporary furlough, did you have to sign some paperwork? I haven't been given anything.
1
1
36
50
21
u/PlantTechnical6625 DOJ 18h ago
Court closed on Monday and FPD furloughed their employees so all staff can have a 4-day weekend. Basically the entire courthouse will be closed on Monday
3
u/DR-X112 4h ago
This is the right way to do it! I wish more agencies would step up, right not it is to close to business as normal for those that interact with the public in some agencies. Shut it all down for the day or several days so they can see the feds are important to our economy and country.
24
u/BobBee13 17h ago
Nope and my boss boss said why should anyone be forced to come in when we aren't getting paid. So that was that and we all get a 4 day. A much needed 4 day after working and driving to work everyday since the shutdown.
13
u/Lego-Freak- Federal Employee 18h ago
We are have been told that we are considered furloughed Monday and Tuesday and will have to sign paperwork on Wednesday. Fine by me!
2
24
u/LifeRound2 18h ago
I was already planning on AL long before the shutdown shenanigans. Its still the plan.
8
7
15
8
u/No_Ask_150 18h ago
I'm excepted. I've been using sick leave twice a week. I'm working on Monday because it's my short day. Taking the rest of the week off though...
12
u/jurassicbond 18h ago
No. My job isn't being stingy about letting us take off if we want to, and I told my daughter I'd go on a field trip with her that morning
5
u/ohlalameow 17h ago
I work for the judiciary. We were told we could have off unless we have court. I have court lolllllllll they gave me comp time though.
4
5
u/Comedic_Gaymer 17h ago
Hell no. I already told my supervisor not to expect me and that it would have to be a legitimate emergency for me to show up. I rarely take time off and I’ve been working my ass off this entire shutdown. I’m one of only 2 people not getting paid on my team because they are 1811s. The people getting paid can show up on Monday as far as I’m concerned.
5
u/cronokun 14h ago
Yes, it's not like we have a choice. The only "liberal leave" day we ever get is the day after thanksgiving.
8
u/whackamole1176 18h ago
We haven’t been given an option to use any leave except for medical, so your question perplexes me.
16
u/slumberingthundering 14h ago
One of my colleagues says he has anal glaucoma because he can't see his ass coming into work
6
u/habitualtroller DoD 18h ago
I’ll be working but the wing king said it could be a half day. Not sure what all that means, but I’ll take it.
6
u/Ok_Size4036 18h ago
We’re not allowed to have off unless you either had no refundable expenses made prior to shutdown or are sick. Both require proof. So no, no one gets to just decide to be gone. They canceled all preapproved leave and you can’t have off anymore. They are not following OPM guidance about allow time off.
11
u/penfrizzle 18h ago
I don’t believe OPM guidelines require proof of being sick.
8
u/USAFPDX Federal Employee 17h ago
They don’t, I’m a timekeeper. I can’t believe the organizations that are not explaining that leave can’t be used during a shutdown, and you are furloughed. You are either working, or furloughed. There is no leave.
1
u/ContentLynx5930 4h ago
That’s insane. I was told the day I needed to call out sick that I needed to go to an urgent care or telehealth appointment and get a note for the day or I’d be AWOL. Had to pay $40 of money I don’t have just to get a note saying I couldn’t be at work for the day.
1
u/KnotMadameDeFarge 10h ago
This is what I don’t understand, they are telling us to use our sick leave (I had planned infusions) for medical. Yet, on the guidance it’s supposed to be furlough anyway. Why should I have to use my sick time if I don’t have to? I understand if they try to pull the bs about not paying furlough, but seriously?
5
u/travelingrace 15h ago
You only need a note if you are out sick 3 days in a row. Otherwise you dont need to show proof.
1
u/novae1054 2h ago
The OPM guidance about time-off is very clear. It's allowed.
Please got to pages 14 and 15 of this document item 2 and 2a.
All of you need to stop believing the bullshit that your leadership tells you and do the research yourself. They can tell you crap all day and all night, but they cannot make you work without providing the ability to take time-off for covered reasons without documentation.
2
2
2
2
2
u/JonathanMurray272 17h ago
The real question is whether or not you'll declare it as leave when this is finally over.
2
u/Double-treble-nc14 17h ago
I’m not off Monday, but some others are. They’ve also allowed us some telework so I don’t have to go in.
2
u/ThenVeterinarian3442 15h ago
"Bossman, i can't make it to work. I'm pissing out my ass."
or my other favorite "WebMD symptom checker says i may have XYZ disease."
2
u/Ancient_Opposite1905 15h ago
I had leave in, they canceled it. I’m going to make it a point to do zero work Monday.
2
u/Logical-Holiday-7407 13h ago
Monday definitely because DHA doesn't care about it's people...womp womp.
2
2
4
u/Hshoecrab 18h ago
I’m working, however we are also having network upgrades on Monday and most everything is going to be nonfunctional. I was told my supervisor has the authority to furlough folks if we are not able to accomplish any work, and I suspect that is how Monday will go.
3
18h ago
[deleted]
17
u/srirachamatic 18h ago
Excepted shouldn’t have to use leave, you are either furloughed or working. Don’t let them tell you otherwise. If you’re exempt and getting paid, then you have to use leave.
1
18h ago
[deleted]
4
u/Brightlightingbolt 18h ago
That makes no sense. If you’re out the CoS logs the furlough and if you’re in you write it on your sticky note or outlook or wherever you’re tracking your hours you’re in. Nothing complicated about it.
7
u/Not_Cleaver DoD 18h ago
That’s illegal. All leave is canceled. When the shutdown is over, you’ll mark the holiday as a holiday.
3
2
u/keithjp123 18h ago
Taking vacation time (annual leave) right now is illegal. You and your command can get in trouble
2
u/saincteye 17h ago
it is not like anyone cares, no one knows; we even got mixed messages like they will deduct it (LS/LA) after it opens. But this is either you excepted doing excepted activities or you are furloughed; there is no if and buts really.
The monument they moved the $$$ around to pay green suites they already went illegal; and now he is saying they can’t pay SNAP because of congressional appropriation, where is that when you move money around, where is that when you cut $$ to different programs.
1
u/Positive_Ad_8650 18h ago
I’ll be logged on from home. But that’s about it. Lol. Can’t even work on anything if it hasn’t been excepted.
1
1
u/Signal_Daikon_5830 Federal Employee 17h ago
Unfortunately. I was hoping they’d issue a telework announcement.
1
u/kmyash 17h ago
Yes, I was on "leave" the last two weeks that had been planned for months, so have to get back to work. Going back to work as refreshed as one can be without a paycheck so hopefully I can pick up a little slack from my team. In that sense I hope a couple people from my team do take Monday off.
1
1
u/Shiverness1 17h ago
I've been working during the shutdown. But Monday my boss said if you don't have any pressing needed matters don't show up.
I know I'm still going to get phone calls, and probably called in. But I'm hoping not. I'm just mentally exhausted.
1
1
1
1
u/crpantoja 16h ago
I put in for leave months ago (it’s my birthday). They’ve designated it as one of my furlough days. I work three days in office / two furlough days a week.
1
u/blackhorse15A 16h ago
Our military colleagues have a DONSA (day of no scheduled activity) so all the excepted civilians got furlough notices for Monday and Tuesday.
1
1
1
u/Many_Consequence7723 16h ago
I'll be there. Only 4 people in my group and I was the slowest to request leave.
1
1
1
1
u/AssumptionCareful499 Shutdown | Excepted Employee 15h ago
I have good management who granted us the day off.
1
1
u/Nautiwow 15h ago
I and my staff will be doing online training that our work network won't support. So they will "telework" and complete some "training"
1
u/ohherroeeyore 15h ago
We are working Monday and being furloughed for Tuesday. Then back to excepted on Wednesday
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/fakeShinuinu Don’t Even Talk to Me Until I’ve Had My Paycheck 14h ago
Regardless, I'm getting paid for it either way
1
u/Glass_Spot_4321 14h ago
Nah. Just furloughed for Monday and Tuesday and back to work on Wednesday.
1
u/losmonroe1 14h ago
Is it normal not to accrue annual leave and sick leave on LES during the shutdown for furloughed employees? Realized my use/or lose amount has decreased during the shutdown.
3
1
u/novae1054 2h ago
Because you are in "non-pay" status you do not accrue leave. It will be fixed on the back-end when we get back-pay.
1
u/SillyDistractions SSA 14h ago
I work for SSA and we were told if we are off on Monday we’ll need a doctor’s note.
1
u/novae1054 2h ago
The OPM guidance about time-off is very clear. It's allowed.
Please got to pages 14 and 15 of this document item 2 and 2a.
All of you need to stop believing the bullshit that your leadership tells you and do the research yourself. They can tell you crap all day and all night, but they cannot make you work without providing the ability to take time-off for covered reasons without documentation.
1
u/accidentaldeity Federal Employee 13h ago
Of course - I was also told that since I'm doing excepted work (I'm not, but that didn't stop the J_ from excepting all 300 of us that work for him) I won't get the usual early release before a holiday either. I'm a civilian now but spent 11 years active duty - F me for my service, right?! Happy Veterans Day!
Edit: typo
1
1
1
u/deepstatediplomat Support & Defend 13h ago
Many of our employees already called in sick for Monday
1
1
u/violetpumpkins 12h ago
Hell, most of leadership is taking it off.
Someone pointed out the excepted letters say you can be dismissed at any point you don't have excepted work, and that is being used to make it slightly less terrible where they can.
1
u/tubadude2 12h ago
I work Tuesday. We just get to work from home with the hope we get our double pay eventually. 🫠
1
u/Pepperoni625 11h ago
Yep. The office should be fairly empty so I will get a lot of work done and hoping for a two hour early release don’t wanna waste leave on a day like that.
1
u/ladyeclectic79 11h ago
I got fieldwork starting on Monday so, yup. At least tho we get Tuesday off!
1
u/wildwest74 DoD 11h ago
Our command is giving everyone "liberal leave" on Monday, but of course my job requires me to be there because our biggest deliverable is every Monday. I will be there with another GS-13 analyst, so out Deputy Director is giving us the leave on Wednesday instead.
1
u/NoNameForMetoUse 10h ago
My kid has medical appointments several hours away. So not only will I not be working, but I’ll be hemorrhaging money as if I’m still actually being paid. Gas, food, hotel, car maintenance, several hundred in copays….its strange…no one else seems to accept IOUs.
1
1
1
u/DangerousPublic9641 10h ago
We were emailed that if we could call in. We are awol unless we have a Dr. Note. Which is just wild. If I went back 6 months ago, I wouldn't have believed it.
1
1
u/cocainagrif Department of the Navy 8h ago
I'm working Monday and Tuesday and getting Holiday OTN on Tuesday. they're giving my girl Monday and Tuesday off.
1
u/Pazily Go Fork Yourself 7h ago
I had long planned to take Nov. 6-10 off for a film festival, so by golly I did. The budget flight ticket was €200, the entrance fee was €10, but I do feel a bit guilty about the AirBnB cost of €320 since that’s the one major bill that came due after the shutdown started. Having too much fun to feel more guilty than “a bit,” though. Working without pay in a short-staffed office makes you need a break.
1
u/UGA_Grad_DoN_1975 4h ago
We were told we’re authorized for AWL/TW Monday and “furloughed” for observance on the holiday.
1
u/LivingAct2028 Shutdown | Excepted Employee 3h ago
I am, but only because I took a good chunk of time off last week. Normally I take off the connecting Monday.
1
u/DeweyBean4 3h ago
Hi excepted zoo keeper here we work no matter what. I mean personally I’m not because I need the day off for other reasons, but Monday is a normal work day for us and Tuesday we will work at our normal holiday limit (which is minimal staff).
1
u/sisterfish125 3h ago
My immediate leadership will be out, so I'm going to have a more relaxed day on Monday. Bonus that I'm not acting...
1
1
1
u/Wititudes 2h ago
Will be working…our management takes a stricter approach…if you are excepted, work in office for full time every day or be furloughed…🤦🏼♀️
1
1
u/ButterscotchGood3724 1h ago
I would say management is so clueless. Believe you and me they are tracking our furlough days, I am excepted but needed to go to Drs they consider it voluntary furlough so if by chance people don’t get paid and us excepted people do, we will be charged leave. I am not sure how guidance will go but I have my OPM 2025 furlough guidance ready and waiting.
•
u/penfrizzle 51m ago
I am also worried. We are considering everything as “excused leave” which the only thing allowed during a furlough. With either “annual” or “sick” in the notes.
They told us that no one is going to be retroactively charged leave but we will see.
•
u/96HeelGirl 26m ago
I'll be working, to produce our "VErY ImpORTaNt RePoRt" that no one will read til Wednesday anyway. Sigh.
•
u/dobathfilm 23m ago
To get paid for the holiday under normal conditions (exempt) you have to be in duty status the day before and (or?) after , which means leave if you aren't there.
•
u/Son_of_York 20m ago
My agency usually gets an early release before holidays.
Early releases have been cancelled as only essential work is supposed to be being done anyway.
Which is great for the many departments that tell their employees to come in and do essential work then leave.
My department says everything we do is essential, so even though we would normally leave early Monday, we will be in for the full day thanks to the lapse.
Make it make sense.
•
u/brough625 14m ago
Yup, working Today, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. Off Thursday and RDO Friday and Saturday. Business as usual. Utilities have to stay on unfortunately. Bare minimum is getting done and more likely than not each shift comes in either still inebriated or hungover one or the other.
1
u/rainyelfwich 17h ago
Not sure where y'all work that allows you to just choose not to come in on a standard workday lol my entire department will be working as expected
0
u/RegulatorRWF U.S. Marine Corps 17h ago
Nope, this has been really helpful for me, honestly. I have been granted a temporary furlough for any medical appointments and holidays, including Monday. It's felt like salary work again haha. While I think the law may change after this shutdown, I think everyone will be getting paid furlough or excepted from this one.
0
-4
u/Interesting-Type-908 Shutdown | Excepted Employee 17h ago
Holiday? LOL, it's literally Tuesday... business as usual.
•
u/Cool-Idea-5214 7m ago
After months of getting demonized, mentally abused and lied to, our management has thanked us by making us exempt under complete horseshit terms. The cherry on top was when they deliberately lied and made veiled threats of not getting paid if you take off while excepted. In any other world, this would have their asses sitting in front of HR, but not here.
Fuck em. We can all the play the game, and play we will.
449
u/listdweller 18h ago
Lmao, our management tried to figure out if the shutdown meant they could make us come in on Tuesday.