CRS Part-Time-Work Policy: Issue Update
Policy on Temporary Part-time Schedules for Permanent and Indefinite Full-time Employees
On Monday, August 25, the Director announced a new CRS policy on Temporary Part-time Schedules for Permanent and Indefinite Full-time Employees. CREA thanks the Director for the opportunity to work with management in their development of this policy.
As you may remember, CREA, with DSP Steward Erin Williams facilitating, solicited views from the bargaining unit regarding what such a policy should consider. These views were forwarded to the management team developing the policy. In addition, the CREA President and Erin have maintained a dialogue with the management team during the development of the policy. Based on those discussions, we believe that the new policy represents a positive step in improving workplace flexibility at CRS. We are sending this notice to share some of the matters discussed, as well as to answer some questions you have raised about the new policy.
Current Part-Time Employees. Employees made part-time prior to the date of the new policy were made so according to LCR 2010-9 (via LCR 2014). Under these regulations, there is no need to reapply each year to maintain a part-time status. Schedules may be changed when management finds it necessary for the accomplishment of the Library’s (CRS’s) mission. As alluded to in the announcement, the Director has asked the associate/assistant directors to review, in consultation with the employee, the situation of those currently in part-time status in light of CRS needs on a case-by-case basis over the next year. CREA was told throughout the development of this policy that there is no overall plan to change the arrangements of current part-time employees.
Reasons for Granting Temporary-Part-Time Status. CREA was told that “commitments outside of work” were not limited to health and family reasons, but that those were provided as examples because they are the only two reasons for which part-time conversion has been granted to full-time employees in the past.
Extensions of Temporary Part-Time Schedules. CREA has been assured that the annual renewal process available to staff granted temporary part-time status is meant to be straightforward and not meant to discourage the extension of an employee’s part-time status. Management has assured CREA that during the review for extension, hours worked beyond the agreed upon part-time schedule to meet workload demands on a limited basis will not be used to argue against granting the extension.
Grievances. According to the new policy, the decision not to grant part-time status is final. However, management and CREA discussed the fact that a failure to follow the procedures in reaching that decision is grievable.
Availability of Permanent Part-Time in the Future. While the LCR regarding permanent part-time remains in effect, management has made clear that it is highly unlikely that requests for permanent-part time will be granted in the near term. In fact, it was management’s reluctance to approve new requests for part-time status under the LCR that led to the development of this new CRS policy. It is CREA’s position that permanent part-time should continue to be made available under the terms of the Federal Employee’s Part Time Career Employment Act, P.L. 95-437, codified at 5 CFR 240.
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). The Office of Workplace Development is currently preparing SOPs for implementing the new policy, and has agreed to share these with staff.
We also want you to know that management has asked Erin to communicate to them any comments and concerns that come to her attention, and Erin invites you to contact her (ewilliams@crs.loc.gov; 7-4897).
The process of this policy development has been a positive one, and CREA thanks management for their consideration and collaboration. CREA intends to seek further collaborative efforts with management for the expanded use of other established programs that allow professionals to meet the needs of their clients in a dynamic environment, such as telework and job sharing.
Tags: CRS policy·part-time·part-time-work
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