BREMERTON, Wash. –
As the threat of inclement weather begins to rise so do questions of curtailment. A curtailment due to snow or other extreme weather or emergency situations can result in non-critical operations being curtailed for safety, either for a short period of time, a shift or for multiple shifts.
Mission essential status
Even in the event of inclement weather or an emergency situation, there will still be a need for specific personnel to support and conduct critical work and security. Those employees are identified by positions and by their supervisors. If you are unsure of your status, you should seek clarification about your position and if it requires you to report to work. Curtailment doesn’t mean the shipyard is closing, but certain work is limited and certain positions to not report to work, with the exception of those on telework agreements.
Delayed starts
A delayed start means employees are given the opportunity, if needed, to delay reporting to work due to road conditions. Employees will still be paid using weather and safety leave, unless on a telework agreement. For example, if the command is delayed two hours from standard shift, this means an employee is authorized up to two hours from their normal start time to navigate safely to the shipyard. If an employee decides not to report to work, no administrative leave is authorized.
Employees who ride the Worker/Driver bus should check the Kitsap Transit or Mason County Transit pages at kitsaptransit.com/ service/snow-service or masontransit.org/weatherandholidayclosures/ for the status of services.
Telework
A telework program participant is an eligible employee who voluntarily participates in a telework program and has a signed telework agreement on a recurring or situational basis. An employee who is a telework program participant on a situational basis is considered to be continuously participating in a telework program, even if there are extended periods during which the employee does not perform telework. All telework program participants, regardless of whether their agreement is for recurring or situational telework, are ineligible for weather and safety leave and are expected to begin telework on time or request leave. Employees participating in the telework program should contact their supervisors if they have any questions.
Liberal leave
When deciding on work status due to inclement weather, leaders at PSNS & IMF make decisions about operations based on road conditions around the base itself, snow removal progress inside the fence line and the upcoming weather forecast. It includes input from military and community leadership, emergency management personnel and transit partners. If an employee is in an area that they feel is too dangerous to drive to work, they should contact their supervisor and discuss using their personal leave. This also applies to school closures, medical emergencies and vehicle problems due to weather.
Employee notification
Employees can monitor decisions on the shipyard’s work status through a variety of resources. PSNS & IMF information will be posted on facebook.com/ PSNSandIMFonthewaterfront, and pushed across additional channels you can access at home and at work.
Changes in operating status will also be posted on X (formerly Twitter), at X.com/PSNSandIMF. Employees can also sign up for the Everbridge employee messaging system at https://member.everbridge. net/306355722256718/event, or by texting “PSNS” to 888777.
PSNS & IMF, Naval Base Kitsap, Trident Refit Facility Bangor and Naval Station Everett make decisions based on work status independent of one another. Each command has their own priorities of work and protocols. What one command decides may be different from the others. Employees should check with their own supervisors and chain of command for their work status.
As winter and cold weather approach the area, PSNS &IMF leadership will continue to balance the needs of the Navy and the safety of employees. It is important for every employee to stay up to date with their section’s work status and keep their leaders informed of any commuting difficult.