**[Tour of Duty]{.underline}**

Under flexible schedules, the tours of duty are the limits set by the
agencies within which employees must complete their basic work
requirements.

**ARS:** The basic tour of duty extends from 0000 (midnight) Sunday
morning and ends at 2400 (midnight) Saturday night of the second week of
the pay period. As such, it may involve a basic work requirement on
Saturdays, Sundays, or nights. Full-time employees who perform regularly
scheduled non-overtime work during a period of duty, part of which is
performed on Sunday, are

entitled to Sunday premium pay for the entire period of work, up to 8
hours.

**CSREES and ERS**: The basic tour of duty extends from 0600 (6 a.m.) to
1800 (6 p.m.) daily, Monday through Friday.

**NASS:** The basic tour of duty extends from 0630 (6:30 a.m.) to 1800
(6 p.m.) daily, Monday through Friday.

**Basic Work Requirement**

The basic work requirement of a flexible work schedule is the number of
hours, excluding overtime hours, employees are required to work or
otherwise account for by leave, credit hours, holiday hours, excused
absence, compensatory time off, or time-off award hours. Full-time
employees must work 80 hours during a biweekly pay period. Agencies may
also establish daily or weekly basic work requirements, (e.g., set a
maximum of 8-12 hours a day). A part-time

employee works fewer hours than a full-time employee within a specified
period of time as determined by the conditions of employment.

**Core Time**

Core time is that part of the schedule of hours during the workday,
workweek, or pay period that is within the tour of duty and during which
employees must be present at work or on leave.

**ARS:** The setting of core time is delegated down the supervisory
chain of command. There are no Agency wide core times set. If a core
time is set by subordinate supervisors, the employee(s) must be given a
minimum of 7 days advance notice.

**CSREES, ERS, and NASS**: The core times are 0900 (9 a.m.) to 1530
(3:30 p.m.), Monday through Friday.

**Flexible Time**

Flexible times are the hours during the workday, workweek, or pay period
that are within the tour of duty and during which employees may choose
to vary their times of arrival to and departure from the work site.

**ARS:** The designation of flexible time is delegated down the
supervisory chain of command. There are no set Agency wide flexible
times.

**CSREES and ERS**: The flexible times are 0600 (6 a.m.) to 0900 (9
a.m.) and

1530 (3:30 p.m.) to 1800 (6 p.m.).

NASS: The flexible times are 0630 (6:30 a.m.) to 0900 (9 a.m.) and 1530
(3:30 p.m.) to 1800 (6 p.m.).

**CSREES, ERS, and NASS**: The flexible time may be extended to 1830
(6:30 p.m.) solely for the purpose of earning credit hours, if the
supervisor so approves.

**CSREES, ERS, and NASS:** Meal time or an unpaid break of 30, 45, or 60
minutes is required for more than 5 hours of work and must be scheduled
between 1100 (11 a.m.) and 1400 (2 p.m.).

This break may not be at the beginning or end of the workday. Length of
meal or unpaid break is dependent on supervisory approval.

**Breaks**

There is no inherent right to a paid break during working hours. Units
and locations where unions have negotiated on this matter will abide by
their negotiated agreements.

**Schedules**

Supervisors approve work schedules by signing and dating the employee\'s
timesheet form.

Supervisors may alter the employee\'s previously agreed to schedule when
necessary, but must provide at least 7 days advance notification of the
change to the employee. Supervisors shall initiate a revised schedule
for an employee, if over 3 pay periods the employee, with supervisory
approval, has established a pattern of work that is expected to continue
and is different from their previously approved schedule. For part-time
workers, an SF-52 (Request for Personnel Action) is required when a
change is made to the number of hours the employee works during the
biweekly pay period.