Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-04-27
u. ). Offices 10 Work
&-Hour Week Until
Pay Bill Is Acted On
Budget Bureau Orders
Agencies to Continue
Present Schedule

The Budget Bureau today d.
rected all Federal agencies to
continue the 48-hour week de-
spite the expiration Friday of
the temporary law which does
away with the Saturday half
holiday.
Technically, employees would be
required to work but half day next
Saturday and on the Saturdays
thereafter, until and unless, Con-
gress enacts permanent legislation
covering the matter. A bill to con-
tlnue the overtime pay rate on
which the siX-day workWeek is
based, was rejected by the House
just before the Easter recess was
taken, but it is expected e new law
will be enacted shortly.
The Budget Bureau instructions
were contained in a circular letter.
as follows:
I'm view of the probability that
the Congress may take final action
on the pending overtime pay legisla-
ton at an early date, the heads of
departments and agencies should
continue the existing work schedule
for Federal employees including full
days work on Saturdays. If the
Congress should enact legislation
which would be retroactive to May l
employees could then be paid their
overtime compensation for Satur-
days work. On the other hand, if
such legislation should not be enact
ed, employees could then be given
the compensatory time off that
would be credited to them in COM
pliance with the Saturday half
holiday law.
Numerous inquiries concerning
hours Of work for Federal employees
suggest the desirability of a further
explanation of the general policy on
this subject Budget Circular No.
359, issued June 10, 1910, requires
submission to the director of the Bu-
reau of the Budget and approval by
the President of all regulations and
amendments thereto regarding hours
Of duty for Federal civilian en-
ployeS whether in the field or de-
partmental service. Insofar as the
field service is concerned, changes
in the opening or closing hours need
not be so submitted, but changes in
the length of the workday or work.
week must be submitted for approval
under the procedure set forth in the
circular. Changes in the opening or
closing hours of agencies in Metro
politan Washington are to be sub
mitted to the Bureau of the Budget
for approval under provisions of
Circular No. 371 issued March 10,
1941.
1.-THE President in his memoran-
dunn issued December %, 1912, to
the heads of all agencies stated, 1T
is my desire that the head of each
department and agency establish
general minimum work
schedule of a six-day, 48-hour week
for both the departmental and field
service This contemplated a gen.
eral minimum work week of six
eight-hour days. Any proposal for
the establishment of a work sched-
ule of 48 hours within period of
less than six days would not be in
accord with that policy"
Is Per Cent Increased Urged.
At the same time today, the CIO
United Federal Workers urged Pres
ident Roosevelt to support Is per
cent increase in the base pay of
Government employees, and to
strengthen the personnel machinery
Of the Government by the creation
OF an administrator for personnel.
The UFW said these recommended
lions were approved at a meeting of
the National Executive Board which
has just been held here.