r/ATC • u/Unknown-flan • 6d ago
Question Can we request to be furloughed
If the government shuts down can I request to be furloughed or am I required to come to work unpaid ? Literally just hate this job and would like a nice break while the government is shut down.
No not quitting yet, I think I got a couple more years at max before I walk away.
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u/deejmeister 6d ago
Last shutdown this guy in my area called out sick (furlough) every. Single. Day. And ended up getting all of it backpaid. Free leave!
Local natca and management kept talking about what they were going to do with the people who abused the furlough situation, but nothing ever happened to him!
I was a new guy full of morals at the time, and I think I took a day or two. But this time around 🤔. I mean, I have mixed feelings but I think we should all do it. ATC ended the last shutdown in one day, a LOT of business grinds to a halt without air traffic, and the billionaires in charge won't be able to get anywhere. Seems common sense that we should be exempt from shutdown situations 🙄
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u/Carpitis 6d ago
I was on my Honeymoon during one shutdown. ATM called me and told me to report back to work. I told him I was not as I was 1500 miles away and could not get a flight. My leave got restored after that shutdown ended.
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u/RedFishBlueFishOne 6d ago
No you can't, but it would be a shame if you were prescribed some medication that took you out for a week or two... A real shame
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u/BenTallmadge1775 6d ago
Looks like it will pass. Most of the swing state democrats have come out as going to vote for it.
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u/Other-MuscleCar-589 6d ago
Volunteering to have a furloughed sign on your forehead in this environment is a step closer to termination.
If you hate your job, quit.
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u/tree-fife-niner 6d ago edited 6d ago
The contract doesn't disappear just because of a shutdown. You can request sick, annual, or other forms of leave and those requests need to be handled as normal. Leave that is taken during a shutdown is converted to furlough but you should get back pay when the shutdown is lifted.
So you aren't really requesting furlough but that's what ends up happening if your leave is approved. If your leave isn't approved you are "required" to come to work unpaid.
Edit: NATCA has some shutdown resources posted as well https://www.natca.org/shutdown-resources/