In celebration of Thanksgiving, Secretary Vilsack has authorized a two-hour early departure for employees today, Nov. 23, 2022.

Supervisors should work with their employees who are unable to participate in the early departure due to mission critical needs to identify another day by Dec. 31, 2022, to participate in the two-hour early departure.

What You Need to Know

• Supervisor approval is required to participate in the two-hour early departure, which must be used by Dec. 31, 2022.
• The two-hour early departure may only be used during an employee’s scheduled tour of duty.
• The two hours does not need to be used on the same day but must be used by Dec. 31, 2022.
• Employees in a continuous period of non-pay status may not be placed in a pay status solely to receive the 2 hours of administrative leave for an early departure.

What You Need to Do

• Employees will code their timesheet using Other Leave, “Transaction Code 66” for the early departure and please note it in the timesheet remarks section.
• Employees who are not able to be released early from work due to mission critical needs will code their timesheet as normal using “TC 01” Official Time.
• Please work with your supervisor to identify another day by Dec. 31, 2022, to use the two-hour early departure authorization and please note it in the timesheet remarks section.

Help is available

Open an HR Help case:

• Call: 1-877-372-7248, Press 2
• Email: hrm_contact_center@usda.gov
• Self-Service: ConnectHR > HR Help link

For detailed instructions, visit the HR Help How-to Add a Case Guide.