The rules, which take effect in late May, attempt to strike a balance between employees’ religious rights and agencies’ interests in getting the work done.
Federal employees had been waiting with mounting impatience for the order needed to formally set new pay rates for future paychecks and to provide for back pay.
Under the proposal, current employees would increase their required contributions toward retirement until the employee and government share are equal.
A budget measure set for final voting in Congress would grant federal employees an average 1.9 percent raise retroactive to Jan. 6, while pay for senior political appointees would increase for the first time since 2010.
Contractor back pay is also being debated.
Policies vary among departments and agencies affected by the shutdown.
Employees who have gone without pay during the 35-day partial government shutdown likely will have to wait well into next week to see a paycheck.
They now have until a third missed paycheck before they have to directly pay their premiums or lose coverage, rather than having to start paying this week.
Employees furloughed from shuttered agencies will receive both basic pay and any special allowances they normally would have received, once their agencies reopen. Meanwhile, those agencies are told to be "accommodating" to employees still working but without pay.
Send in your questions about budgeting on a furlough, applying for unemployment and navigating contract work with the federal government.