3 FAM 3520
ABSENCE WITHOUT OFFICIAL LEAVE (AWOL)
(CT:PER-925; 09-24-2018)
(Office of Origin: HR/ER/WLD)
3 FAM 3521 general
(CT:PER-925; 09-24-2018)
(Uniform State/USAID/USAGM/Commerce/Agriculture)
(Applies to Foreign Service and Civil Service Employees)
Absence without official leave (AWOL) is an unexcused
absence from work duty when:
(1) The absence was not authorized; or
(2) The request for leave was properly denied.
3 FAM 3522 authority
(CT:PER-925; 09-24-2018)
(Uniform State/USAID/USAGM/Commerce/Agriculture)
(Applies to Foreign Service and Civil Service Employees)
Authorities include:
(1) 5 U.S.C. 61 and 5 U.S.C. 63 (Part III, Subpart E);
and
(2) 5 CFR 610 and 5 CFR 630.
3 FAM 3523 Policy
(CT:PER-925; 09-24-2018)
(Uniform State/USAID/USAGM/Commerce/Agriculture)
(Applies to Foreign Service and Civil Service Employees)
a. The minimum charge of absence without official leave
(AWOL) is 15 minutes; additional charges are in multiples thereof.
b. Pay is forfeited for all absences charged AWOL.
c. If an employee is charged AWOL and can provide an
explanation acceptable to management and/or acceptable documentation (e.g.,
medical certification or court documentation) to justify the absence, the
supervisor may approve the employees request for annual leave, sick leave,
other paid leave, or leave without pay, as appropriate. However, if the
employee is unable to acceptably justify the absence, the charge of AWOL will
remain.
d. AWOL may form the basis for taking disciplinary
action in accordance with 3 FAM 4300 (Foreign Service) and 3 FAM 4500 (Civil
Service) disciplinary procedures.
3 FAM 3524 Supervisors
responsibilities
(CT:PER-925; 09-24-2018)
(Uniform State/USAID/USAGM/Commerce/Agriculture)
(Applies to Foreign Service and Civil Service Employees)
In addition to overall responsibilities for the proper
administration of leave procedures, supervisors are responsible for:
(1) Familiarizing themselves with leave policies,
regulations and procedures, particularly proper leave request procedures;
(2) Notifying employees in writing of any absence
without official leave (AWOL) charges and the reason(s);
(3) Explaining the reason for denying a leave request
submitted on Form DS-7100, Request for Leave or Approved Absence, or for USAID,
submitted electronically through USAIDs; and
(4) Notifying timekeepers of AWOL dates and/or times
and ensuring they are properly annotated in the employees time and attendance
report (TATEL).
3 FAM 3525 employees responsibilities
(CT:PER-925; 09-24-2018)
(Uniform State/USAID/USAGM/Commerce/Agriculture)
(Applies to Foreign Service and Civil Service Employees)
a. Employees are required to familiarize themselves
with and follow the leave policies, regulations and procedures governing leave
usage and requests for leave, including such issues as when and to whom leave
requests should be submitted, when documentation is required, and what is
considered acceptable documentation.
b. Employees should be aware of the consequences of
absence without official leave (AWOL).
3 FAM 3526 timekeepers
responsibilities
(CT:PER-925; 09-24-2018)
(Uniform State/USAID/USAGM/Commerce/Agriculture)
(Applies to Foreign Service and Civil Service Employees)
a. In accordance with 4 FAH-3
H-525.3-5, the timekeeper must indicate in TATEL the number of hours that
the employee has been charged absence without official leave (AWOL).
b. Additionally, when recording AWOL, the date(s) and
number of hours should be listed and annotated as AWOL in the time and
attendance report (TATEL) remarks section.
3 FAM 3527 additional information
(CT:PER-925; 09-24-2018)
(Uniform State/USAID/USAGM/Commerce/Agriculture)
(Applies to Foreign Service and Civil Service Employees)
a. For additional information, access the HR/ER/CSD website.
b. Also, see 4 FAH-3 H 520, Attendance and Leave, for
information on the responsibilities of the supervisor, employee, and timekeeper
in relation to time and attendance procedures.
3 FAM 3528 and 3529 UNASSIGNED