Furlough information provided during town hall meetings

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HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  Hanscom leaders conducted Town Hall meetings March 21 to provide detailed information on furlough as it relates to Hanscom's appropriated fund civilian population.

Installation Commander Col. Lester A. Weilacher and other Hanscom senior leaders briefed the civilian population on what the potential furlough means for civilian employees. The Airman and Family Readiness Center also provided information on helpful programs and resources for those impacted by the potential furlough.

If it becomes necessary to furlough employees, proposed notifications could be issued between today and March 26, Weilacher said during the sessions.

Moments after the second session concluded, the Department of Defense announced that furlough notices to civilian employees would be delayed until on or about April 5 in order to analyze pending legislation. Further information about the delay can be found at www.hanscom.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123341114.  

If the potential furlough becomes a reality, Hanscom will furlough employees Friday of each week. Exceptions to the Hanscom Friday furlough day plan are expected to be rare, with requests approved at the program executive officer/deputy PEO, local functional director or 66th Air Base Group commander or designee level, said Kathy Owens, chief of Employee and Labor Relations.

Compressed Work Schedules will be temporarily suspended during the duration of a furlough while flexible work schedules will remain unaffected. Telework and participation in the Physical Fitness Program also remain unaffected.

There will be no approval for overtime, compensatory time or credit hours during the duration of a furlough, except for those organizations that had obtained prior Air Force-approved emergency exceptions, Owens said.

In addition, movement of personnel during the period of the furlough will require mission justification and approval.

Bargaining obligations have been satisfied with NAGE Local R1-8 and are on-going with NFFE Local 1384, according to Owens.

"Individuals who are on extended leave without pay or part-time work schedules will be contacted by a representative of the Civilian Personnel office to discuss their work situation and how it will be impacted by a potential furlough, if it does become a reality," Owens said.

Leaders and personnel specialists both warn that working during furlough time is legally prohibited.

"Working on a furlough day could result in disciplinary action against both the supervisor and employee," said Owens. "Supervisors must ensure furloughed civilians do not work from home or on-site, officially or unofficially, on their furlough days. This means that employees are legally prohibited from checking their Blackberries or using their Air Force issued laptops while on furlough."

Additional information about sequestration and furloughs can be found under the Civilian Workforce Information section of HanscomNet at https://hanscomnet.hanscom.af.mil. This link provides a special section where employees can gather information and submit questions regarding furlough. The Hanscom public website, www.hanscom.af.mil, also provides a direct link to the AFMC furlough information at www.afmc.af.mil/sequestration.asp.  

Employees are encouraged to check the Q&A section on the Civilian Workforce Information section of the HanscomNet periodically, as it is being updated frequently, Owens said.