Official Time Requests and Reporting Procedures. A. A request for official time must be made using the form located at the end of this Article, providing enough advance notice in order to allow the Agency to be able to consider, and plan for mission requirements. Sufficient information (start and stop time, employee represented, date, representational category, contact telephone number, and specific location, if other than the normal duty station or Union office) must be included with each request to use official time to allow the approving official to determine if the time requested and activity described meet the criteria outlined in this Article.
B. Approval from an authorized supervisor/Agency official must be obtained by an employee prior to their engaging in official time as a Union Representative. The employee will immediately inform the supervisor when they return to work after completion of the representational activity using the method determined by the supervisor.
C. If management is unable to approve a request for official time, the reason for denial will be provided. If an operational need does not permit the employee to use the official time when requested, management will generally make a reasonable effort to allow the employee to use official time within two (2) workdays, keeping in mind the interests of the Union, as well as the needs of the employer.
D. An employee serving as a Union Representative is responsible for accurately recording official time on their time and attendance for pay purposes.
Official Time Requests and Reporting Procedures. (a) A request for official time must be made in the manner designated by Management normally at least one workday in advance in order to allow Management to be able to consider and plan for Agency mission requirements. Sufficient information (start and stop time, date, representational category, contact telephone number, and specific location, if other than the normal duty station or union office) must be included with each request to use official time to allow the approving official to determine if the time requested and activity described meet the criteria outlined in this Article.
(b) Approval from an authorized supervisor/management official must be obtained by employees and Union representatives prior to their engaging in official time. Any employee who uses official time without advance supervisory/management approval will be considered absent without leave and subject to appropriate disciplinary action. The employee will immediately inform the supervisor when he/she returns to work after completion of the representational activity using the method determined by the supervisor.
(c) If Management is unable to approve a request for official time, the reason for denial will be provided. If an operational need does not permit the employee to use the official time when requested, Management will generally make a reasonable effort to allow the employee to use the requested official time within two (2) workdays, keeping in mind the interests of the Union, as well as the needs of the Employer.
(d) An employee serving as a Union representative is responsible for accurately recording official time on his/her time and attendance for pay purposes.
Official Time Requests and Reporting Procedures. A. All requests for official time will be submitted via OUTTS or equivalent electronic reporting system. Sufficient information (time, date, representational category and location if other than normal duty station) must be included with the request to allow the approving official to determine if the time requested and activity described meet the criteria outlined in this Article. Unless an authorizing official is not available, approval from the authorizing official must be obtained prior to engaging in official time. The representative will inform the supervisor when he/she returns to work after completion of the representational activity.
B. If management is unable to approve a request for official time, the reason for denial will be provided. If an operational emergency does not permit the union representative to use the official time when requested, management will make a reasonable effort to allow the representative to use the official time by the end of the work day that the request was made keeping in mind the interests of the union and employees as well as the needs of the employer. When management determines that a union representative’s presence is necessary to meet Agency work requirements and the requested official time cannot be used by the end of the workday that the request was made, management will ensure that the denied official time can be used within two workdays.
C. Accounting of Official Time will be submitted via OUTTS or equivalent electronic reporting system.
D. All reporting information will be retained for a period of six (6) years.
E. OUTTS will be modified to accommodate the provisions of this Article. If Management proposes modifications to OUTTS beyond the provisions of this Article, it will provide notice to the Union and, upon request, bargain to the extent required by 5 USC Chapter 71.
Official Time Requests and Reporting Procedures. A. All requests for official time will be submitted via Official Union Time Tracking System (OUTTS) or equivalent electronic reporting system. Sufficient information (i.e., time, date, telephone number where he/she can be reached, representational category, and specific location if other than normal duty station) must be included with the request to allow the approving official to determine if the time requested and activity described meet the criteria outlined in this Article. Approval from the authorizing official generally should be obtained prior to engaging in official time. The official time user will inform the supervisor when he/she returns to work after completion of the representational activity and make any necessary adjustments to the initial request for official time.
B. If the Agency is unable to approve a request for official time, the reason for denial will be provided. If an operational need does not permit the union representative to use the official time when requested, another opportunity to use official time will be determined, keeping in mind the interests of the union and employees as well as the needs of the Agency. When the Agency determines that a union representative’s presence is necessary to meet the Agency’s work requirements, the Agency will, within one work day, identify an alternate day and time for use of the requested official time.
Official Time Requests and Reporting Procedures. Union representatives who are on 100% official time will report to his/her Union office to perform their representational functions when not in travel status or teleworking. When 100% Union representatives travel within their region but do not require travel orders, they will notify their supervisor or designee of their intended location(s). The Parties agree to continue the Memorandum of Understanding concerning Telework for NFFE Union Representatives, effective January 12, 2012 and incorporate the Memorandum into this Agreement as Appendix C.
