Revision of AWS Policies

The term Alternative Work Schedule (AWS) is used to describe ALL flexible and compressed work schedules. AWS is a blanket term that covers both the Compressed Work Schedule (CWS) and the Flexitime Work Schedule (FWS) offered at Headquarters (which is one type of Flexible Work Schedule). Much of the confusion on the policies and procedures surrounding these schedules has come from using the term AWS instead of the more accurate terms; CWS or FWS.

The CWS offered at Headquarters is commonly called the 5 4/9 schedule. Once established, it is a set schedule. At NASA Headquarters the approved CWS 8 9-hour days and 1 8-hour day, plus a 30-minute lunch period, with one CWS day off.

For part-time employees, the schedule is set between 32 and 64 hours a pay period in fewer than 10 days, with 1 or more days exceeding 8 hours. The schedule, once set, is not flexible.

An employee cannot vary arrival and departure times, nor move the "CWS day" (day off). The supervisor may require, and approve, a change within the pay period for mission-related reasons. Permanent changes to the work schedule require completing the NHQ Form 61, NASA Headquarters Time and Attendance Report, obtaining supervisory approval, and submitting to the Payroll Office, 8 working days prior to the beginning of the applicable pay period. Supervisors should pay close attention to changes in work schedules to ensure coverage of the office and accomplishment of critical work.

Both full-time and part-time employees who are prevented from working on a holiday are entitled to pay for the number of hours of their normal tour of duty (set CWS). If the holiday falls on the CWS day of a full-time employee, the CWS day off will be moved to the preceding workday. If the holiday falls on the first Monday of the pay period, and this is the normally scheduled CWS day off, the employee’s CWS day off will be moved to the next workday. For mission-related reasons, management can move an employees CWS day. In accordance with 5 United States Code (U.S.C.) 6103(b) and Executive Order 11582, part-time employees are not entitled to an in lieu-of-day if the holiday falls on a nonworkday.

Credit Hours
There is no legal authority for credit hours under a CWS. Work ordered and preapproved by the supervisor beyond the set schedule is subject to Agency policy. See NMI 3530.3B for NASA policy on Compensatory Time for FLSA exempt employees.

Travel
If travel is known in advance, supervisors and employees should consider reverting to a regular 8-hour-day schedule for the pay period if travel is a week or more in length.

The supervisor will make individual adjustments in the work hours on a case-by-case basis to ensure the following:

• There are 80 hours accounted for in each pay period for full-time employees;
• All team members work the same schedule while on travel; and,
• The employee/team works the hours of the office visited, if necessary.

Training
Supervisors will make adjustments in an employee’s work schedule as necessary to accommodate training.

NOTE: Supervisors and employees should consider reverting to a regular 8-hour-day schedule for the pay period if training is a week or more in length and is known in advance.

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Another work schedule offered at Headquarters is called the Flexitime Work Schedule (FWS). Flexitime schedules require full-time employees to work 8 hours each workday plus a 30-minute lunch period. Employees must account for time during core hours. The core hours at NASA Headquarters are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Employees may request an arrival time as early as 6 a.m. if the employee schedules a lunch period of at least 1 hour. If the employee wishes to take only the required 30-minute lunch break, then the scheduled arrival time can be no earlier than 6:30 a.m., since core hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The schedule, once set, is a fixed schedule. On infrequent occasions, an employee may vary his/her arrival time up to 30 minutes prior or 30 minutes later than the set start/stop times without supervisory approval, adjusting departure times accordingly. Permanent changes to the work schedule must be documented by completing the NHQ Form 61, NASA Headquarters Time and Attendance Report, obtaining supervisory approval, and submitting to the Payroll Office, 8 working days prior to the beginning of the applicable pay period. Supervisors should pay close attention to changes in work schedules to ensure coverage of the office and accomplishment of critical work.

Full-time employees on FWS are entitled to 8 hours of pay for holidays. Part-time employees on FWS are entitled to pay for the number of hours scheduled for that day, not to exceed 8 hours.

Credit Hours
Credit hours are worked at the election of the employee with prior supervisory approval. Earned credit hours may be used within the same workweek, within the same pay period, or may be carried over to another pay period. No more than 24 credit hours may be carried over from one pay period to another. No more than 2 credit hours may be earned in 1 day.

Travel
An employee working an FWS, while in a travel status is considered to be working his/her hours of employment, subject to the pay limitations of 5 U.S.C. 6103(b). Similarly, the time spent in a travel status by a nonexempt employee during regular working hours (FWS) is considered hours of work under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The supervisor will make individual adjustments in the working hours on a case-by-case basis to ensure the following:

• There are 80 hours accounted for in each pay period for full-time employees;
• All team members work the same schedule while on travel; and,
• The employee/team works the hours of the office visited, if necessary.

Training
Supervisors will make adjustments in an employee’s work schedule as necessary to accommodate training.

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