Dear USDA Family,

We’ve celebrated Labor Day in the U.S. since President Grover Cleveland declared it a national holiday in 1894. This is the weekend we will celebrate the hard work you deliver to your peers, our stakeholders and the public to build productive lives, strong families and thriving communities. On behalf of the secretary and the deputy secretary, I extend a sincere thank you and announce a two-hour early release for this Friday, Sept. 2. I have included guidance below for our essential employees and others who may not be able to participate on Friday—to ensure you also benefit. 

With much appreciation,

Oscar Gonzales
Assistant Secretary for Administration

Terms for Using Early Release Leave

• Employees should code their timesheet using “66 – Admin/Excused Absence” (WebTA) or “TC-66 Other Leave” (Paycheck8).
• Employees who are required by their supervisor to work on Friday, Sept. 2, 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 Friday, Sept. 2, because their supervisor has directed them to continue working due to mission critical needs, or if Friday is a non-workday or if the employee is on preapproved paid leave on Friday, then they 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 (Sept. 11-Oct. 8) to use the two-hour release authorization. The two hours do not need to be used on the same day and may be combined with other leave, but the total amount must be used by Oct. 8, 2022.
• 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 two-hours administrative leave for an early release. If employees are in a “use-or-lose” situation, the two hours do not constitute an exigency of public business and does not qualify to have annual leave restored.

*If you are a bargaining unit employee and have questions regarding the content of this message and its potential impact on a current labor agreement, please refer them to your local union representative.