Yes, create a linked server on server1 to server2 with RPC and RPC out enabled. Depending on how your security is set up you may need to map logins.

If you can upgrade and use Always On, that would be better for a number of reasons.

Does this work?

DECLARE @sql nvarchar(max) = @emp +N'
 EXCEPT
'+@dept;
EXEC sp_ExcueSQL @sql;

Are you using a witness sever? If so it may have been unable to reach the primary and caused the failover.

Time Worked is a interval, not a time. Use the DateDiff Function. If I start working 10 AM yesterday and stop at 10:01 today:

DECLARE @StartTime datetime = '20170710...

Using the nested subqueries is creating nested loops in the execution plan. Rewrite your query and ditch the nested subqueries.

WITH Jic
AS
    (
    SELECT BID = 'EE', XER = 1 UNION
    SELECT 'EE', 2 UNION
    SELECT 'EE', 3 UNION
    SELECT 'FF', 4 UNION
    SELECT 'FF', 5 UNION
    SELECT 'FF', 6),
    Rn AS(SELECT *, Row_Number() OVER(PARTITION BY...

http://www.sqlservercentral.com/blogs/spaghettidba/2015/04/24/how-to-post-a-t-sql-question-on-a-public-forum/

DECLARE @t table(vals varchar(100));
INSERT @t ( vals )
VALUES ( 'A' )
     , ( 'B,C,D' )
     , ( 'E,F' )
     , ( 'G' )
     , ( 'G,H,OK' );
SELECT...

If you are on a Windows domain, you can use trusted connection. With integrated security, users can connect without getting prompted for a password if they are logged in to...

Update statistics.

Or:
WITH Dummy (Number, [Value]) AS
(
   SELECT
        a
      , b
   FROM
      (
         VALUES
              (12345, 'xyz')
            , (12345, 'abc')
            , (12345, 'zcd')) t (a, b)
)
SELECT
    ...

SELECT
   DateAdd(WEEK,number*-1,DateAdd(DAY, 2,  DateAdd(WEEK, DateDiff(WEEK,0,GetDate()), '19000101')))
FROM master.dbo.spt_values sv
WHERE sv.type='P'
AND sv.number BETWEEN 0 AND 15

does this work?

   Select item_name
         , Sum(amount_paid) over (partition by item_name) / SUM(amount_paid) Over() s
   From order_items;

You can use WinRar