Form 3971. Request for or Notification of Absence

Form 3971, also known as the "Request for or Notification of Absence" form, is a standardized form used by federal government employees to request leave or notify their supervisor of an upcoming absence. The form is used to document absences for both planned and unplanned situations, such as vacation, sick leave, and military leave.

The form consists of several parts, including:

• Employee information: This section includes the employee's name, address, and contact information.
• Leave type: This section indicates the type of leave being requested, such as annual leave, sick leave, or other types of leave.
• Dates of absence: This section includes the start and end dates of the requested leave or absence.
• Reason for absence: This section indicates the reason for the absence, such as illness, vacation, or personal reasons.
• Certification: This section is used by the employee's supervisor to certify the accuracy of the information provided on the form.

The form is typically compiled when a federal government employee needs to request leave or notify their supervisor of an upcoming absence. The parties involved in the document are the employee requesting the leave and their supervisor, who will review and approve the request.

When compiling the form, it is important to accurately fill out all of the required fields, including the employee information, leave type, and dates of absence. It is also important to provide an accurate reason for the absence and to ensure that the supervisor certifies the accuracy of the information provided.

The advantages of using this form include its standardization and ease of use for both employees and supervisors. By using a standardized form, there is less room for errors or misunderstandings, and the process of requesting or notifying of an absence is streamlined.

Potential problems that can arise when filling out the form include inaccuracies or omissions, which can lead to delays or denials of the requested leave. It is important to carefully review the form before submitting it to ensure that all required fields are completed accurately.

Related forms include the Form 3972, which is used to document time and attendance for federal government employees, and the Form 3973, which is used to document requests for advanced or excess leave.

There are no known alternative forms that are comparable to Form 3971. However, some agencies may have their own leave request forms that are similar in purpose and content.

The form is typically submitted to the employee's supervisor for review and approval. Once approved, the form is filed in the employee's personnel file and a copy is provided to the employee for their records.