| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 13, 1998 |
CONTACT: Warren Asher (202) 606-1800 wrasher@opm.gov |
Washington, D.C.--The Clinton Administration is urging federal agencies to move swiftly to resolve the year 2000 computer problem. And the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has moved swiftly to help them do just that.
OPM has made two new tools available to assist the agencies. One is the waiver of dual compensation reductions, making it easier to re-employ retirees who have the programming skills and systems knowledge that agencies may need. The other tool is the use of premium pay to attract and retain employees in emergency situations.
Dual compensation waivers enable agencies to reemploy federal retirees (civilian and military) without the reduction required in retirees salary or military annunity. While the law does not allow OPM to provide a blanket waiver, OPM can act in response to agency requests for delegated authority in emergency situations and other unusual circumstances. OPM Director Janice R. Lachance has determined that the Year 2000 conversion is an unusual circumstance. In addition, she has guaranteed that OPM will respond within one business day to agency requests for delegated dual compensation waiver authority.
Regarding premium pay authority, the head of an agency already may make exceptions to the biweekly limitations on premium pay when the agency head determines that an emergency situation exists.
OPM is encouraging agencies to exercise this authority in the case of any employee who performs emergency work to resolve a direct threat to property (including monetary errors or costs) in connection with updating computer systems to prevent malfunction, erroneous computations, or other problems associated with the inability to distinguish between the year 1900 and the year 2000.
The Clinton Administration is expanding its focus into all segments of society because people look to the federal government to take the lead in this crucial issue, Lachance said.
| United States Office of Personnel Management |
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