DoD contractor here. Nothing as of yet. We’ve been previously told it could be until the 15th of March before we are notified, but really it could be anytime.
Have you received a furlough notice yet?
DoD contractor in DC here- we haven’t heard any specifics yet.
DoD employee here; no official letter yet. I think we’re supposed to get them sometime this week or next.
EPA here; nothing yet. Just heard a rumor from a colleage that furlough days may be as few as 4 between now and October. I don’t know why or how. He said he read it on www.govexec.com, and our local AFGE rep was downplaying it, saying it was extremely unofficial - almost disavowing it. Strange times are upon us.
Really it’s the not knowing that’s killing me. If I knew it was happening I could plan accordingly. Better to err on the side of caution I suppose, and I guess it’s always a good time to be saving.
Every day there’s something in the news that may seem encouraging, but upon reading mostly says nothing. Today’s example: “Deal to avert government shutdown likely,” which sounds positive at first, but whatever happens with that, it doesn’t mean anything as far as the current furlough situation is concerned.
USAF contractor here. We’ve been told no furloughs. Our contract is Firm, Fixed Price.
Contractor outside of NAS Patuxent River, MD - the mucky-mucks of our company have been meeting all day. Rumor has it at least one overpaid employee is history, and there’s speculation about who else might have to go. I don’t think it’s directly tied to the sequester, but I’m sure that’s being discussed in the meeting. My husband thinks the budget fiasco is a good excuse for reorganization and shedding some personnel, but I’m not sure if he says that because he’s heard something or because that’s what he’d do. I half-expect to hear something by the end of the week, but maybe that’s just wishful thinking.
After all the meetings and emails we had over the last couple of weeks, we’ve gotten nothing. I’m surprised they haven’t said anything. They say we need 30 days before any furloughs so it’s looking like at least early April before anything happens.
SSA. I’ve heard from several sources, including the letter sent by the Acting Commissioner, that we will avoid personnel furloughs.
HHS. On Friday, they told us that our office was also going to avoid furloughs.
I received my furlough notice via email this morning.
What, exactly, is a furlough? Is it like a layoff and you could be called back to work? Or is it more like being fired? Or is it more like being forced to take vacation without pay?
Either way, I’m sorry to hear that** Machine Elf**. 
It’s involuntary leave without pay.
Okay, so not a layoff, can’t use any accumulated vacation time, not fired. Employment limbo. That sucks even more than I thought.
I think the level of suckitude will vary depending on how it’s implemented.
What’s currently being proposed for federal workers, as is my understanding, is up to a 20% reduction in hours per pay period, in other words you work four 8 hour days per week rather than five. That’s certainly a preferable option than say, being given the month off without pay then resuming a normal schedule (maybe), but it’s still the same reduction in pay for the year.
So it could be worse, but it still pretty much sucks, and not just for compensation reasons. If you’re working on projects with deadlines, that’s 32 less hours a month for you to complete those projects.
As explained to me - furlough = 4 days work for 4 days’ pay, 3-day weekend (or equivalent) every week. Still no official word for us yet. Just another day in paradise.
My sister (Ft Detrick) got hers. One day a week unpaid for the rest of the year.
She’s the main income on her household. Sucks to lose 20% of that.
My brother in law is DOD civilian, and he’s been told he’ll be furloughed every Wednesday. Not sure when it will start.
Still no letter for me (via email or hardcopy).
Rumors are flying and one of them is that our furlough day will be Wednesday. However, we are a hospital and patient care must continue, so what makes more sense is that there will be a rolling or alternate days between staff and clinics. Still, it’ll be a bitch to institute.
As for the admin areas, and I’m in one of them, it’s hard to say. I have a feeling we’ll be screwed and stuck with a Wednesday furlough day which is just stupid.
Furlough is when they send you home for a while. You don’t work, and they don’t pay you. In our case, it’s likely to be 13 days of furlough between now and October 1. They need to be spaced out a bit, but we have some flexibility about exactly when they will occur. I have heard a couple of them are mandatory: May 24 and July 5, as these will make for nice four-day holiday weekend when a lot of people would choose to take vacation time anyway.
Less money is of course not as nice as more money, but my wife and I will be OK. My wife is employed, and I have a second job at home that provides some supplemental income, so a 10% hit in income from my day job is tolerable; we live well within our budget, so the furlough just means our net worth will increase a little more slowly than it has been. On the plus side, I will have more time to get stuff done around the house.
Here’s the (redacted) text of the message I got this morning:
March 4, 2013
As you know, the American Taxpayer Act of 2012 mandates across-the-board spending cuts (known as sequestration) on March 1, 2013. As required by law, the President issued the sequestration order cancelling billions of budgetary resources across the federal government for the remainder of the federal fiscal year.
At EPA, these spending cuts include employee furloughs, and below is your “Proposed Notice of Furlough.”
Please know we deeply appreciate your commitment to public service and to EPA’s mission to protect human health and the environment. We recognize the difficult personal financial implications of any furlough, no matter its length. That’s why we are working to do everything we can to minimize the impact on you and the work we do here at EPA every day.
We continue to work with the employee unions to finalize our approach. Currently, EPA intends to implement the furlough in two phases, so we can assess whether there are any unanticipated cost savings during the first phase that could be applied to reduce the number of furlough days needed in the second phase.
Thank you for your cooperation as we work together to manage these unfortunate circumstances. For more information, please visit EPA’s intranet site.
PROPOSED NOTICE OF FURLOUGH OF 13 DAYS OR LESS DUE TO SEQUESTRATION
In accordance with the provisions of 5 CFR Part 752, Subpart D, this is notice that I am proposing that you be furloughed from duty without pay because the Agency has received a reduction in salaries and expenses funding caused by the Joint Committee Sequestration ordered under Section 251A of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, as amended. This furlough is proposed to promote the efficiency of the service by avoiding a deficit of funds in FY 2013.
The furlough will be on discontinuous (intermittent) days, and must be served by the end of the fiscal year, September 30, 2013. Full time employees will be furloughed no more than thirteen (13), (8 hour) workdays or 104 hours. If you are a part-time employee, your furlough time off will be prorated, based on your work schedule.
This is a non-disciplinary, adverse action. If this action is approved by the deciding official noted below, it will take place no earlier than thirty (30) calendar days from the date that you receive this notice.
EPA intends to allow flexibility for you to request a specific schedule for your furlough time off, and will provide further clarification on this as needed. At this time, we do not reasonably anticipate the need for furlough beyond thirteen (13) workdays. However, should additional furlough days be necessary, you will be given additional notice, as appropriate.
You will be allowed fifteen (15) calendar days from receipt of this letter to respond orally and/or in writing, to review the material supporting this proposal, and to furnish any affidavits or other supporting documentary evidence in your reply. The material supporting this proposal can be found on the EPA intranet. If you do not have access to the EPA intranet, please contact XXXXXXX for assistance. You have the right to be represented in this matter by an attorney or other person you may choose. If you are in active duty status, you and/or your representative, if an agency employee, will be allowed a reasonable amount of official time to review the supporting material, seek assistance, prepare your reply, secure affidavits and statements, and provide a reply. You must make arrangements with your supervisor for any use of official time in this matter.
To arrange for an oral reply, please contact xxxxxxxxx. Your written reply may be mailed to the deciding official, XXXXXXX. If you email your reply, please insert Response to Proposed Furlough on the subject line. XXXXXXX will issue a final written decision, including an explanation of the specific reasons for the action taken, as soon as possible after the fifteen (15) day reply period. In the event that you elect not to reply, you will receive a written decision soon after the reply period has ended. No decision to furlough you has been made or will be made until full consideration is given to your reply.
We recognize the difficult personal financial implications of any furlough, no matter how limited its length. We will make every effort to keep you informed as additional information regarding the Agency funding level becomes available. If you have any questions concerning this proposal, your rights, or the procedures regarding this action, you may contact xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Please be aware that the Employee Counseling and Assistance Program (ECAP) is available to provide you with confidential counseling services should you need assistance in dealing with any personal matters related to this action. ECAP can be reached by calling xxxxxxxxxxxx