OPM closed - still have to telework?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If on a regular, normal day, I was at home, claiming to be "telework ready" but didn't have childcare in place for my small children, then people would be up in arms if they found out.

On a snow day, the definition of telework ready shouldn't magically change. Thankfully, at my agency, it doesn't - but sounds like it does for many of you. Sorry to hear that.

It is an interesting issue. The way I see it, isn't about changing the definition of "telework ready." Rather, it is about the "benefit of the bargain." When you sign your telework agreement, you are pledging to be telework ready on those days when you are expected to telework. This includes regularly-scheduled telework days and weather-related closure days (in some agencies.) In essence, you forfeit the administrative leave option and pledge to work. If you have no childcare, you don't telework, but you take the leave.

Think of it in this context, in a situation where there is no weather-related closure, but it is your regularly scheduled telework day and your childcare falls through, you do not telework, but you do take leave to care for your child. Same situation.

In my agency, everyone was told they had to sign telework agreements so as to be ready to telework on snow days or in other similar situations. So, it's not really a "benefit of the bargain" situation because, in many cases, these people do not actually telework or only telework very infrequently. Fortunately, my agency seems to have come down on the side of saying you are not telework ready if you have small children to care for and can then get admin leave.