As DoD prepares to launch in early July what will be the largest number of furloughs among agencies imposing them—the latest count now stands at about 650,000—components are issuing guidance on various special considerations. For example, memos state that organizations may not transfer any work from civilian employees to contractors or use overtime to make up for lost work. Overtime in general is to be limited tightly, they say, and employees can be recalled from furlough but only in emergencies involving the health, safety or security of people or property. Further, in the words of one representative memo from the Army, “Organizations are reminded that furloughed employees are prohibited from working on-site or on a telework basis on furlough hours/days, and furloughed employees may not substitute paid leave or other paid time off for furlough hours/days.” Meanwhile, the FDA has become the latest agency to announce that it won’t need to impose furloughs through this fiscal year, using hiring restrictions and deferring some expenses.
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