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As a series of storms continue to impact threaten our communities, our thoughts are with the thousands of NTEU members feeling its effects. When crisis hits, federal employees are often the first responders, and NTEU is working on multiple fronts to help those impacted by the hurricane’s devastating power. Here are some ways you can help your fellow federal employees in need:
Assistance is Available
For employees who need financial assistance, the Federal Employee Education and Assistance (FEEA) Fund offers grants exclusively for federal employees. NTEU works closely with FEEA following major disasters to ensure grants for food, housing and support. Disaster assistance applications are available on FEEA’s website.
Donate Leave to Emergency Leave Transfer Program
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) announced the ability of agencies to establish an emergency leave transfer program (ELTP) for their employees.
Please read OPM's statement on retroactive substitution of donated annual leave:
“Dependent on agency policy, [employees] may request advanced annual or sick leave, as appropriate (even if they have available annual and sick leave) or leave without pay, so that they are not forced to use accrued leave before donated annual leave becomes available. This is necessary since donated annual leave may only be substituted retroactively for any period of leave without pay or advanced annual or sick leave used because of the emergency; it may not be retroactively substituted for accrued annual or sick leave used because of the emergency.”
Individual agencies are responsible for creating their own ELTP, an aid measure NTEU is strongly encouraging. Employees at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) can learn more about their newly created program on IRWeb. NTEU asks all members to contact your local human resources representative to learn about the status of ELTP at your agency.
Help Federal Employees in Need
NTEU's dedicated FEEA fund will be matching dollar for dollar every contribution, up to $30,000. Every donation—big and small—makes a difference. Donate here.
NTEU is in close contact with our chapters in the affected areas and stands ready to deal with any workplace issues employees may encounter as a result of the storm, including administrative leave for office closures.
NTEU will provide updates as information becomes available. We encourage all federal employees and other area residents to heed local warnings and stay safe.