SUBJECT: Noticeofproposedfurlough

DEPARTMENTOFTHEAIRFORCE

MEMORANDUMFOR:

FROM:

SUBJECT: NoticeofProposedFurlough

ThismemorandumnotifiesyouthattheDepartmentofAirForceproposestofurloughyounoearlierthan30daysfromreceiptofthisnotice.Thisfurloughis beingproposedinaccordancewith5CFRpart752, subpartD.ThisadministrativefurloughisnecessitatedbytheextraordinaryandseriousbudgetarychallengesfacingtheDepartmentofDefense(DoD)fortheremainderofFiscalYear(FY)2013,themostseriousof whichisthesequesterthatbeganonMarch1,2013.TheBudgetControlActof2011,as amendedbytheAmericanTaxpayerReliefActof2012,makesacross‐the‐boardreductionstobudgetaryresourcesfortheFederalgovernment.Inaddition,theDoDmustandwillprotectwartimeoperationsfundingforourtroopsinharm'sway.Thisinevitablymeanslargercutsinbase‐budgetfundingfortheOperationandMaintenance(OandM) accounts.Thus,theDoDwillneedfundinginotheraccountsthatcanbeusedtoprovidethewarfighterswith whattheyneedtoprotectnationalsecurityandfightthewar.Thisfurloughisproposedto helpmeettheir needwhileavoidingadeficitoffundsinFY2013.

Ifotheremployeesinyourcompetitivelevel(i.e.,generally,positionsatthesamegradeleveland classificationseries,thedutiesofwhicharegenerallyinterchangeable–see5CFR351.403(a))arenotbeing furloughedorarebeingfurloughedforadifferentnumberofdays/hours,itis becausethey(1)arecurrently ina non‐paystatus,(2)areunderanIntergovernmentalPersonnelActmobilityassignmentthatdoesnot causeanexpenditureoffundsoftheagency,(3)areonanassignmentnototherwisecausinganexpenditure offundstotheagency(toincludealldirectfundedandfullyreimbursedcivilianpositionsandassociated activitiesfundedwithForeignMilitarySalesAdminorcasefunds),or(4)areinapositionwhosedutieshave beendeterminedtobeofcrucialimportanceto thisagency’smissionandresponsibilitiesandcannotbe curtailed(e.g.,civiliansdeployedtocombatzones).The“mission‐critical”natureofanemployee’sworkdoesnotexempthisorherpositionfromanadministrativefurlough.TheAirForcehasdeterminedthere willbeonlya verysmallnumberofexceptions:(1)civiliansdeployedtocombatzones,(2)civiliansnecessary toprotectsafetyoflifeorproperty(e.g.firefighters,policeofficers,emergencymedicalservices),butonlytotheminimumextentneededtoprotectlifeorproperty(andsuchemployeeswillonlyhavetheirfurloughdaysreduced,noteliminated),and(3)theverylimitednumberofcivilianspositionswherenomanning optionwillallowforcoverageoftheirresponsibilitiesandtheirabsenceforanyperiodoftimewillresultinmissionfailureinamissioncriticaltotheAirForce.

Weplantoapplythefollowingproceduresandconditionsrelatedto thefurlough:

1.Thefurloughwillbegin08Jul2013throughapproximately21September2013.Full‐time employeeswillbefurloughednomorethan11workdaysor88hours.Ifyouareapart‐time employee,yourfurloughtimeoffwillbeprorated,basedonyourworkschedule.

2.Duetotheuncertainandpotentiallyfluctuatingamountoffundingwhichmaybeavailabletothis agency,thenumberofhoursperpayperiodrequiredfor thefurloughmayvary.Accordingly,ifthe decisionis madetofurlough,youwill be advisedinadvanceofeachpayperiodofthenumberof furloughhoursrequired.

3.Baseduponmissionandworkloadconsiderationsandsubjecttomanagementapproval,youmay requestaspecificscheduleforfurlough.

4.Annual,sick,court,militaryleave,orleavewithoutpaywhichhasbeenapprovedforadaywhichis laterdesignatedasafurloughdaywillberecordedasafurloughandyouwillbeplacedina non‐pay statusfortheday.However,whenyoureceivethenoticeofyourfurloughdates,youmayrequestthat thefurloughtimeoffberescheduled,asprovidedinparagraph3 above,if youwishtouseleaveas approved.

Atthistime,wedonotreasonablyanticipatetheneedforfurloughbeyond11workdays(88hours). However,shouldadditionalfurloughdays/hoursbecomenecessary,employeeswillbegivenanothernotice. Werecognizethedifficultpersonalfinancialimplicationsofanyfurlough,nomatterhowlimiteditslength. Wewillmakeeveryefforttokeepyouinformedasadditionalinformationregardingtheagencyfundinglevel becomesavailable.Ifyouhavequestions,contactyourservicingEmployeeRelationsSpecialist,88FSS/FSMCZ,LaborandEmployeeManagementRelationsOffice:

Comm: 937‐904‐3472, email:

Youwillbe allowed7calendardaysfromreceiptofthislettertorespondorallyand/orinwriting,toreviewthesupportingmaterial,andtofurnishanyaffidavitsorothersupportingdocumentaryevidencein youranswer.Toreviewthesupportingmaterial,pleasegoto EmployeeRelationsSpecialist.Youhavetherighttoberepresentedinthismatterbyanattorneyorother personyoumaychoose,atnocosttothegovernment.Ifyouareina paidstatus,youand/oryourrepresentative,ifanagencyemployee,willbeallowedupto4hoursofofficialtimetoreviewthesupportingmaterial,seekassistance,prepareyourreply,secureaffidavitsandstatements,consider appropriatecoursesofaction,andmakea response.Contactyoursupervisortoarrangeforofficialtime.The decidingofficialmayhavedesignatedrepresentativestohearoralrepliesonhis/herbehalf.Toarrangeforan oralreply,pleasecontactthedecidingofficiallistedbelow.Writtenrepliesshouldbemailedtothedeciding official:

Requestsforreconsiderationneedtoaddressthecriteriasetoutin thesecondparagraphofthisletter, above.Yourpersonalfinancialhardshipcannotformthebasisforgrantingarequestforreconsideration.Afinalwrittendecision,includinganexplanationofthespecificreasonsfortheactiontaken,willbe givento youas soonaspossibleafterthesevendaysallowedforyourreply.Nodecisiontofurloughyouhasbeenmadeorwillbemadeuntilfull considerationisgiventoyourreply.

Iacknowledgereceiptofthisnotice.

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