Work Schedules

Credit: R. Wilson/NIST

Unless on an alternative work schedule, the standard schedule is 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (with a 30-minute, unpaid lunch period) at NIST's Gaithersburg, Maryland campus and other NIST locations, with the exception of Boulder, Colorado. 

The standard schedule for the Boulder, Colorado campus is 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (with a one-hour, unpaid lunch period). 

Should you need more flexibility in your schedule, most NIST roles offer a variety of work schedule options, including flexible arrival and departure times. 

As part of our commitment to work-life balance, we offer several alternative work schedules, subject to individual office policies and supervisory approval. 

Alternative Work Schedules

An alternative work schedule consists of two components: flexible bands and core hours. When working an alternative work schedule, an employee must be on duty during core hours as required. Part-time employees should work at least half of their schedule during core hours. The flexible time bands are the times during which employees may vary their workday starting and ending times as follows:

Core Hours and Flexible Time Bands

5/4/9:  This compressed work schedule allows a full-time employee to work a pay period of eight 9-hour days and one 8-hour day, with one day off, in whatever order agreed upon. Part-time employees may be scheduled to work fewer than 80 hours a biweekly pay period in fewer than 10 days. 

Four 10-hour days:  This compressed work schedule allows a full-time employee to work four days a week, 10 hours each day for a total of 40 hours per week (80 hours per pay period). Part-time employees are also eligible for this work schedule. Part-time employees may be scheduled to work fewer than 80 hours a biweekly pay period in fewer than 10 days. 

Flexitour:  This flexible work schedule allows employees to select starting and stopping times within the flexible time bands and continue to adhere to these times, with a minimum of eight hours worked in a workday. Part-time employees work one-half of the scheduled tour within core hours and will, by definition, have a tour of less than 40 hours per week (80 hours per pay period). 

Gliding Schedule:  This flexible work schedule allows full-time employees a basic work requirement of eight hours each day and 40 hours each week. Employees may select an arrival time each day and may change that arrival time daily without supervisory approval (as long as it is within the established flexible time band.) Part-time employees work one-half of their hours within core hours and, by definition, the hours will be less than 40 hours per week (must be at least 16 hours and no more than 32 hours).

Maxiflex:  This is a flexible work schedule that contains core hours on fewer than 10 workdays in the biweekly pay period and in which an employee has a basic work requirement of 80 hours for the biweekly pay period.  An employee may vary the number of hours worked on a given workday or the number of hours each week within the limits established for the NIST office or division. Maxiflex is not subject to flexible time bands. 

Variable Day:  This is a flexible work schedule containing core hours on each workday in the week and in which an employee has a basic work requirement of 40 hours per week. An employee may vary the number of hours worked on a given workday within the week, within the limits established for the NIST office or division. Part-time employees must work 16 hours a week. A variable day is not subject to the flexible time bands, except that the core hours must be worked each workday. 

Variable Week:  This is a flexible work schedule containing core hours on each workday in the biweekly pay period in which an employee has a basic work requirement of 80 hours for the biweekly pay period.  An employee may vary the number of hours worked on a given workday or the number of hours each week within the limits established for the NIST office or division. Part-time employees must work at least 32 hours and no more than 64 hours within a biweekly pay period.  This schedule type is not subject to the flexible time bands, except that the core hours must be worked each workday.