While the House of Representatives may reach a budget compromise as early as this morning, it’s too late to stall the budget fallout rippling across the metro Washington, D.C. area.
Agencies across the government are issuing shutdown guidance to workers, drafting press releases and in some cases printing “closed for government furlough” signs for the doors.
Whether your agency’s shutdown preparation strategy consists of printing signs or issuing memos, there are a few things employees supporting the government – whether they’re contractors or government workers – need to be aware of.
If you’re told not to work, don’t work.
Representative Dan Lungren, chairman of the Committee on House Administration warns: “Working in any way during a period of furlough, even as a volunteer, is grounds for disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment. To avoid violating this prohibition, we strongly recommend that you turn your BlackBerries off for the duration of the furlough.”
Know who “essential personnel” are, and if you’re one of them.
In the Internet era determining who or what functions are essential and what aren’t is of greater concern, and has spawned much debate over whether or not official government websites, and the personnel supporting them, would be deemed essential in the event of a shutdown.
CIA and intelligence agencies have assured that personnel essential to national security will remain working in the event of a shutdown. Entire agencies will not be exempt, however, so analysts in long-term research positions or those filling administrative roles would not come to work in the event of a shutdown.
If you’re essential you work, but you might not get paid.
Essential personnel include service members and those critical to protecting our nation. Such individuals would continue to work in the event of a government shutdown but paychecks would be suspended until Congress restores funding. There is currently legislation in congress to ensure that service members are paid even if there is a government shutdown, but as of this time it hasn’t been passed. If you’re a contractor, your company may reassign you or you may be asked to report to company headquarters if your contract agency is closed. Check with your contract manager to be sure you know.
Regardless of whether you’re a contractor or federal employee the best step is to ensure you’re aware of the latest announcements coming from your human resources department. Also, have a process in place to be notified of procedures for returning to work once a shutdown is over.
