3 FAM 3520
ABSENCE WITHOUT OFFICIAL LEAVE (AWOL)
(CT:PER-993; 05-26-2020)
(Office of Origin: GTM/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 employee’s 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 USAID’s; and
(4) Notifying timekeepers of AWOL dates and/or times and ensuring they are properly annotated in the employee’s 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-993; 05-26-2020)
(Uniform State/USAID/USAGM/Commerce/Agriculture)
(Applies to Foreign Service and Civil Service Employees)
a. For additional information, access the GTM/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