USDA Colleagues,

Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on our many blessings. We have a lot of reasons to be thankful this year, whether it is reuniting and spending time with loved ones, filling the table with food from hardworking farmers and producers, or acknowledging the progress we’ve made over the past year to ensure the safety, health and well-being of our fellow Americans. Most importantly this year, we are thankful for you—all the USDA employees—for your incredible dedication and commitment. Together, we continue to make significant strides towards improving our country’s economic health through smart public policy, using every resource we have available, and making a transformative, lasting and unprecedented difference in the lives of the people we serve. This important work is the result of your commitment to public service and efforts to restore trust in USDA. Each day, you shine a light on the positive role of government. For that, we are thankful.

Thanksgiving is also a reminder to say thank you often, live each day with a thankful hear, and give without expecting thanks in return. This Thanksgiving, please extend our deep gratitude to those at home and abroad who support you and whom you are most grateful for. Their sacrifices and generosity buoy our success.

To show our appreciation and give you some extra time with those you love, we are pleased to authorize a two-hour early release for employees on Wednesday, Nov. 24.

• Employees should code their timesheet using “66 – Admin/Excused Absence” (WebTA) or “TC-66 Other Leave” (Paycheck8).
• Employees who are required to work on Wednesday, Nov. 24, due to mission critical needs will code their timesheet as normal, “01 – Regular Base Pay.” 
• If employees are unable to participate in the early departure on Wednesday, Nov. 24, because their supervisor has directed them to continue working due to mission critical needs, or if Wednesday is a non-workday, or if the employee is on preapproved paid leave on Wednesday, then the employee may use the two hours on a different day. Employees must work directly with their supervisor to identify another day within the current pay period, or within the next two pay periods (Dec. 5 to Jan. 1) to use the two-hour time off authorization. The two hours does not need to be used on the same day, but it must be used by Jan. 1. 

Leave may only be charged during an employee’s scheduled tour of duty. Employees in a continuous period of non-pay status may not be placed in a pay status solely to receive 2 hours of administrative leave for an early release.

Thank you again for your hard work in support of the mission of USDA and on behalf of the millions of people here and abroad who rely on your contributions to keep their families and communities safe, healthy and fed.

From our families to yours, Happy Thanksgiving.

Sincerely,
 
Tom Vilsack               Dr. Jewel Bronaugh
Secretary                     Deputy Secretary
 

See this and other USDA employee announcements on OneUSDA.