In celebration of the holiday season, and to thank employees for their continued dedication to the District government and the residents we serve, the Mayor has authorized an early dismissal of the District Government on Christmas Eve, Tuesday, December 24, 2019, at 1:00 PM. After this time, District government offices will be closed.

On Tuesday, December 24, 2019 at 1:00 PM, District government offices will be closed. Non-essential employees are excused from duty after 1:00 PM. Non-essential employees who previously requested and were approved leave for any period during Tuesday, December 24, 2019 will not be charged leave after 1:00 PM.

Essential Employees

On Tuesday, December 24, 2019, essential employees who are required to perform non-overtime work are entitled to administrative closing worked pay for the hours actually worked during the administrative closing.

“Essential employees” are employees required to report to work regardless of a declared emergency or other government closing. Such employees who fail to report for duty, even when the government closes, may be charged with Absence Without Official Leave (AWOL). Employees charged with AWOL may be subject to additional disciplinary action in accordance with Chapter 16 of the District Personnel Manual.

“Administrative Closing Worked” pay for essential employees is additional compensation provided on an hour-for-hour basis, equivalent to the employee’s rate of basic pay, as compensation for work actually performed.

Alternative Work Options

A District government employee whose regular Alternative Work Schedule (AWS) day off is scheduled for December 24 is not entitled to additional hours off of work due to the early dismissal. A District government employee whose regular telework day is scheduled for December 24 is not entitled to additional telework hours due to the early dismissal.

For this closure, please enter time in PeopleSoft as follows:

1. Non-essential employees should enter “Administrative Closing Pay” for the hours between 1:00 PM and the end of their tour of duty for Tuesday, December 24, 2019.
2. Essential employees who are required to work should enter “Admin Closing Worked” for the hours between 1:00 PM and the end of their tour of duty for Tuesday, December 24, 2019, in addition to reporting their regular hours worked.

Employees may also contact their agency Payroll Supervisor, Quality Assurance Liaison, or Timekeeper for additional guidance.

In the event of a conflict between any of the provisions of this E-DPM issuance and any collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the provisions of the CBA will control to the extent that there is a difference.

Legal

1. D.C. Official Code § 1-612.01 et. seq., Hours of Work; Legal Holidays; Leave.
2. 6-B DCMR § 1135, Administrative Closing Pay/Leave.
3. 6-B DCMR §§ 1266 and 1271, Administrative Leave and Emergency and Essential Employees.

Applicability

This issuance applies to employees in the Career, Legal, Excepted, and Management Supervisory Services under the personnel authority of the Mayor, but does not apply to the following:

1. Uniformed members of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD); and
2. Uniformed members of the Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department (FEMS).

This issuance does not authorize pay during an administrative closing for uniformed members of MPD or FEMS who are required to work on December 24, 2019. Please see 6-B DCMR §§ 1123.1 and 1201.2 for more information.

Independent Agencies

Independent agencies not under the personnel authority of the Mayor may choose to adopt the provisions in this issuance at the discretion of the agency head.

For additional information concerning this issuance, please contact the Department of Human Resources, Policy and Compliance Administration, by calling (202) 442-9700 or by sending an e-mail to [email protected].