Title 5, Government Organization and EmployeesRelease 119-110

§6127 Compressed Schedules; Agencies Authorized to Use

Title 5 › PART III — EMPLOYEES › Subpart E — Attendance and Leave › CHAPTER 61 — HOURS OF WORK › SUBCHAPTER II — FLEXIBLE AND COMPRESSED WORK SCHEDULES › § 6127

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Agencies may offer a 4-day workweek or other compressed schedules, even if section 6101 says otherwise. If a work unit does not have an exclusively recognized employee organization, workers cannot be forced into a compressed schedule unless a majority of the affected employees vote to join. If an employee asks in writing because the schedule would cause personal hardship, the agency must decide within 10 days. If the agency agrees, it must either keep the employee out of the program or move them into the first job opening after that decision that is outside the program, that they are qualified for, and that they accept.

Full Legal Text

Title 5, §6127

Government Organization and Employees, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Notwithstanding section 6101 of this title, each agency may establish programs which use a 4-day workweek or other compressed schedule.

(b)(1)An employee in a unit with respect to which an organization of Government employees has not been accorded exclusive recognition shall not be required to participate in any program under subsection (a) unless a majority of the employees in such unit who, but for this paragraph, would be included in such program have voted to be so included.

(2)Upon written request to any agency by an employee, the agency, if it determines that participation in a program under subsection (a) would impose a personal hardship on such employee, shall—

(A)except such employee from such program; or

(B)reassign such employee to the first position within the agency—

(i)which becomes vacant after such determination,

(ii)which is not included within such program,

(iii)for which such employee is qualified, and

(iv)which is acceptable to the employee.

A determination by an agency under this paragraph shall be made not later than 10 days after the day on which a written request for such determination is received by the agency.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

5 U.S.C. § 6127

Title 5, Government Organization and Employees

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110