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Work Schedules

The basic workweek at NIST is Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Gaithersburg, MD, and 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Boulder, CO. (Boulder has a one-hour non-paid lunch period.) 

Gaithersburg and Boulder employees may also be allowed to work one of several alternative work schedules, subject to individual office policies and supervisory approval. These alternative work schedules make NIST an employer of choice and indicate the Agency's commitment to maintaining a family-friendly work environment for its employees.

Alternative Work Schedules

An alternative work schedule consists of two components: flexible bands and core hours. When working an alternative work schedule, an employee must be on duty during core hours. The flexible time bands are the times during which employees may vary their workday starting and ending times as follows:

Core Hours and Flexible Time Bands

Band/Core Hours Begins Ends
Flexible Band 7:00 a.m. 9:30 a.m.
Core Hours 9:30 a.m. 11:30 a.m.
Flexible Band 11:30 a.m. 1:30 p.m.
Core Hours 1:30 p.m. 3:30 p.m.
Flexible Band 3:30 p.m. 7:00 p.m.

 

Possible Work Schedules

The following work schedules are available for use by employees:

Basic:  Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Gaithersburg, MD, or 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Boulder, CO

5/4-9:  This alternative allows a full-time employee to work a pay period of eight nine-hour days and one eight-hour day, with one day off, in whatever order agreed upon. Part-time employees may be scheduled to work fewer than 80 hours a biweekly pay period in fewer than 10 days. An employee's scheduled tour must be between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Once adopted, change from this alternative can be made only with approval at the same level as the original approval.

Flexitour:  This a flexible schedule in which an employee, having once selected starting and stopping times within the flexible time bands, continues to adhere to these times. Occasional changes to the schedules may be made with the supervisor's approval in advance. Full-time employees may request to begin their day any time between 7:00 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. and to end their day any time between 3:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., provided a minimum of eight hours is worked. Part-time employees should work one-half of their tour within core hours. Once adopted, change from this alternative can be made only with approval at the same level as the original approval.

Four-day work week: This alternative allows a full-time employee to work four days a week, 10 hours each day for a total of 40 hours per week, 80 hours per pay period. Part-time employees are also eligible for this work schedule. A part-time employee may be scheduled to work fewer than 40 hours a week in fewer than five work days. All employee's scheduled tour must be between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Once adopted, change from this alternative can be made only with approval at the same level as the original approval.

Gliding Schedule:  This a flexible schedule in which a full-time employee has a basic work requirement of eight hours in each day and 40 hours in each week, and may select an arrival time each day and may change that arrival time daily, without supervisory approval, as long as it is within the established flexible time band. Part-time employees should work one-half of their tour within core hours. An employee's tour must be between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Once adopted, change from this alternative can be made only with approval at the same level as the original approval.

Maxiflex:  This is alternative work schedule in which an employee works a flexible work schedule that contains core hours on fewer than 10 work days in the biweekly pay period and in which an employee has a basic work requirement of 80 hours for the biweekly pay period (or multiple thereof), but in which an employee may vary the number of hours worked on a given workday or the number of hours each week within the limits established for NIST/OU/Division. Maxiflex is not subject to the 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. time bands. Once adopted, change from this alternative can be made only with approval at the same level as the original approval.

Variable Day:  This is a schedule in which an employee works a flexible work schedule containing core hours on each workday in the week and in which an employee has a basic work requirements of 40 hours in each week of the biweekly pay period, but in which an employee may vary the number of hours worked on a given workday within the week within the limits established for NIST/OU/Division. Part-time employees must work 16 hours in a week. A variable day is not subject to the 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. time bands except that the core hours must be worked each work day. Once adopted, change from this alternative can be made only with approval at the same level as the original approval.

Variable Week:  This is a schedule in which an employee works a flexible work schedule containing core hours on each workday in the biweekly pay period in which an employee has a basic work requirement of 80 hours for the biweekly pay period, but in which an employee may vary the number of hours worked on a given workday or the number of hours each week within the limits established for NIST/OU/Division. Part-time employees must work 32 hours within a biweekly pay period. Variable week is not subject to 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. time bands, except that the core hours must be worked each work day. Once adopted, change from this alternative can be made only with approval at the same level as the original approval.

Created June 24, 2009, Updated March 1, 2018