Appendix A: Definitions

A-1 

A. Alternative Work Schedule: A flexible or compressed work schedule. 

B. Alternative Worksite: An approved location where employees perform official duties 

away from the agency’s official worksite. For remote work employees, the alternative 

worksite becomes the employee’s official worksite. Alternate worksite is a not a DOI or 

OSMRE physical government building location. It may be another worksite available 

within an DOI facility or the employee’s residence.

C. Eligible Position: A position where OSMRE management determines an employee can 

effectively accomplish job functions outside of the agency’s official duty station. 

D. Employee: As defined in 5 U.S.C 2105, an officer and an individual who is appointed in 

the civil service, engaged in the performance of a federal function under authority of law 

or an Executive act, and is subject to the supervision of the appointing official while 

engaged in the performance of the duties of their position. 

E. Employee Misconduct: A failure to follow a workplace law, rule, or regulation (whether 

written or unwritten), including, but not limited to, tardiness and absenteeism, 

insubordination, and falsification. The Table of Penalties in the Departmental Manual 

(370 DM 752) provides a non-exhaustive list of types of misconduct for which the 

Agency can discipline employees.

F. Employee’s Official Worksite: The permanent assigned worksite where the employee 

regularly performs their duties. The official worksite is used in the calculation of locality 

pay. 

G. Essential Employee: Employees who are required (designated) for the continuation of 

the Department’s Primary Mission Essential Functions, including employees who occupy 

positions and perform functions that must be maintained under all circumstances to 

ensure the safety and security of the Nation and its citizens. These personnel may conduct 

activities at an alternative work location and are expected to initiate and maintain contact 

with the Agency during an emergency to maintain continuity of operations. 

H. Mobile Work: Work that is characterized by routine field work and regular travel to 

conduct work in customer or other worksites as opposed to a single authorized alternative 

worksite. Examples of mobile work include site audits, site inspections, investigations,

and work performed while commuting or traveling between worksites. 

• Current OSMRE positions identified as mobile workers include, but are not 

limited to, the occupational series 511 Auditors in the Division of Compliance 

Management (DCM), the 1801 Reclamation Specialists (OSM-wide), or 

position(s) holding Authorized Representative authority or technical field work 

positions meeting the definition. OSMRE Regional Director(s) or equivalent

hold responsibility to identify mobile work and authority to approve the official 

duty station of mobile workers and related positions with collaboration of the 

Office of Human Resources.
Appendix A: Definitions

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I. Official Duty Station: The official worksite where the employee regularly performs their 

duties as determined under 5 CFR §531.605. For a remote worker, the approved remote 

work location (i.e., non-DOI worksite) is the employee’s official duty station for 

location-based pay entitlements (e.g., locality payments and cost of living allowances). 

J. Reasonable Accommodations: A reasonable accommodation is any change in the work 

environment, or the way things are customarily done that would enable a qualified 

individual with a disability to enjoy equal employment opportunities. An employee (or 

eligible volunteer) with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation at any time 

during their employment. The request for an accommodation can be made verbally or in 

writing. Requests can be made to the supervisor or another management official in the 

chain of command and/or the Bureau/Office Human Resources Reasonable

Accommodation Coordinator. 

K. Remote Work: An arrangement in which an employee’s official worksite is an approved 

alternative worksite. 

L. Remote Work Employees: An arrangement in which an employee’s official worksite is 

an approved alternative worksite. 

M. Telework: Is a work flexibility that enables eligible employees to perform their duties 

from an approved alternative worksite (e.g., home or telework center).