collective bargaining agreement contract between - Bureau of Indian ...

Section 4. Coverage of Office FunctionsA. Management will continue to have responsibility for seeing that the mission of the Department iscarried out. Each office will determine adequate coverage during official hours for the purposeof assuring that the functions of the office are fulfilled. Some examples of the principal forms ofcoverage are:(1) Having phones answered:(2) Providing clerical, technical, and professional support;(3) Providing office representation at essential meetings;(4) Handling inquiries from the public; and(5) Providing program needs based on business necessity.B. When coverage requirements are established, all employees are obliged to meet coveragerequirements. The determination of who will work which particular hours to ensure suchcoverage is within the authority of the supervisor. Determining office coverage involves boththe office work site and the telework/telecommute site. Where practicable, personal preferencewill be honored in scheduling coverage. Where personal preference conflicts with the equitablesharing of the burden of coverage, personal preference shall give way. The opportunity of eachemployee to maximize his/her telework/telecommute participation shall be consistent with thecoverage of legitimate work unit functions as determined by the supervisor.Section 5. Time FramesA. Upon receipt of a request for telework/telecommute, the supervisor and the employee will meetto discuss and review the request. The supervisor's decision is to be provided to the employeewithin ten (10) work days of the request. The time frame may be extended by mutual agreementof the employee and supervisor.B. If disapproved, the employee will be advised in writing with the reason(s). If the disapprovalsubsequently becomes the subject of arbitration, the parties will clarify all the issues inaccordance with this Master Agreement.C. If approved, the specifications of the arrangement will be worked out, reduced to writing, andsigned by both the supervisor and the employee. The employee will begin working at thealternate work site within twenty-one (21) work days after completion of the individualtelework/telecommute agreement unless circumstances dictate otherwise.51