Flexible schedule means one of several types of work schedules all of which comprise core hours and flexible time bands. Core hours is a term used in the context of flexible work schedules. It refers to the scheduled hours of the workday during which an employee must either be present at work, on leave, or using credit hours. Flexible time band refers to the time periods on either side of core hours during the workday, workweek or pay period within the tour of duty in which an employee can vary arrival and departure time or work credit hours.
Credit hours is a term used in the context of flexible work schedules only.
Basic work requirement means the number of non-overtime hours an employee must work or account for by leave before being eligible for overtime. Since flexible schedules are highly adaptable, employees' special needs can usually be accommodated easily. However, not every employee can work within the compressed work schedule environment since it entails a prolonged day and the schedule is fixed. Absent an employee organization with exclusive bargaining rights, an employee cannot be required to participate in a compressed work schedule unless a majority of the employees of the unit have voted to be included. When a compressed work schedule imposes a personal hardship, an employee may make a written request to the plan manager to be excepted from the schedule.