[Response to Request for Advance Decision Concerning Proper Charge of Civilian Employees' Leave During Snow Emergency]

The Army requested an advance decision concerning whether a base commander properly charged civilian employees' leave for arriving late during adverse weather conditions. GAO noted that the commander originally authorized 2 hours of administrative leave for all civilian employees who reported to work late, but later retroactively closed the base for the 2 hours authorized, which resulted in a 6-hour workday. GAO held that: (1) it was within the agency's discretion to determine whether to excuse employees from duty, without charging leave, during the snow emergency; and (2) the commander's decision to retroactively close the base for 2 hours, which resulted in the authorization of 2 hours of administrative leave for all employees regardless of their leave or work status, was an abuse of agency discretion. Accordingly, the employees who reported to work late should be authorized up to 2 hours of administrative leave; however, those employees who chose not to report for duty should be charged with 8 hours of sick or annual leave.