From the Office of Management and Budget:
... All Federal Executive Branch departments and agencies are encouraged to maximize telework flexibilities to eligible workers within those populations that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified as being at higher risk for serious complications from COVID-19 (CDC High Risk Complications) and to CDC-identified special populations including pregnant women (CDC Special Populations). These CDC-identified populations include older adults and individuals who have chronic health conditions, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, lung disease or compromised immune systems. Agencies do not need to require certification by a medical professional, and may accept self-identification by employees that they are in one of these populations. Additionally, agencies are encouraged to consult with local public health officials and the CDC about whether to extend telework flexibilities more broadly to all eligible teleworkers in areas in which either such local officials or the CDC have determined there is community spread. Agencies are also encouraged to extend telework flexibilities more broadly to accommodate state and local responses to the outbreak, including, but not limited to, school closures....This was sent out yesterday. As far as I know, Social Security is still working on its plan.
From: ^Human Resources Internal Communications
ReplyDeleteSent: Friday, March 13, 2020 2:37 PM
Subject: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) - Update - March 13, 2020
Importance: High
A Message to All SSA Employees
Subject:
We are sharing an update on the agency’s approach to the evolving 2019-Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the United States. We have made updates to the Medical Office COVID-19 FAQs page. To ensure the safety of our employees, we are taking several key actions, effective immediately, as described below.
· The agency is making a Work at Home Quarantine (WAHQ) option available to employees who cannot report to the office due to quarantine restrictions, and for parents whose children have experienced a school closure related to COVID-19. Please review the Medical Office COVID-19 FAQs and consult your supervisor for additional information if one of these situations applies to you.
· Employees who are high risk for complications from COVID-19 (e.g., pregnant or with underlying health conditions) may request to work at home under WAHQ. Please talk with your supervisor about your need.
· The agency is reverting to previous (pre-March) telework schedules for all components except field components of the Office of Operations and Office of Hearings Operations. The Office of Operations and Office of Hearings Operations will designate field telework levels based on geographic conditions and public service needs. With this rapidly evolving situation, we continue to assess where additional telework may be appropriate.
In certain locations, office closures may be necessary. You will be notified if you are in one of these affected offices. The agency may order employees to work from home with or without a telework agreement when offices are closed. In this case, employee’s homes temporarily become their duty stations under evacuation rules.
The CDC has also updated the list of high-risk countries for international travel. If you are returning from one of these countries, you have been diagnosed with COVID-19, or suspect you have been exposed due to close contact with an affected individual (e.g., a family member, someone living in your home), please stay home and consult your supervisor for further instructions.
As a reminder, the best way to protect yourself from COVID-19 is to practice frequent hand washing and/or the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizer, avoid close contact with people who are ill, and cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue to prevent the spread of illness.
We will update you as we receive additional information. Please direct questions to your supervisor.
Employees just received this email from Saul:
ReplyDeleteA Message to All SSA Employees
Subject:
We are sharing an update on the agency’s approach to the evolving 2019-Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the United States. We have made updates to the Medical Office COVID-19 FAQs page. To ensure the safety of our employees, we are taking several key actions, effective immediately, as described below.
• The agency is making a Work at Home Quarantine (WAHQ) option available to employees who cannot report to the office due to quarantine restrictions, and for parents whose children have experienced a school closure related to COVID-19. Please review the Medical Office COVID-19 FAQs and consult your supervisor for additional information if one of these situations applies to you.
• Employees who are high risk for complications from COVID-19 (e.g., pregnant or with underlying health conditions) may request to work at home under WAHQ. Please talk with your supervisor about your need.
• The agency is reverting to previous (pre-March) telework schedules for all components except field components of the Office of Operations and Office of Hearings Operations. The Office of Operations and Office of Hearings Operations will designate field telework levels based on geographic conditions and public service needs. With this rapidly evolving situation, we continue to assess where additional telework may be appropriate.
In certain locations, office closures may be necessary. You will be notified if you are in one of these affected offices. The agency may order employees to work from home with or without a telework agreement when offices are closed. In this case, employee’s homes temporarily become their duty stations under evacuation rules.
The CDC has also updated the list of high-risk countries for international travel. If you are returning from one of these countries, you have been diagnosed with COVID-19, or suspect you have been exposed due to close contact with an affected individual (e.g., a family member, someone living in your home), please stay home and consult your supervisor for further instructions.
As a reminder, the best way to protect yourself from COVID-19 is to practice frequent hand washing and/or the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizer, avoid close contact with people who are ill, and cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue to prevent the spread of illness.
We will update you as we receive additional information. Please direct questions to your supervisor
I will qualify due to the underlying health issues and asked my supervisor what I need to do to work at home per the email....he had no clue. So Saul tells us to talk with our supervisor and the supervisors have no info or guidance.
ReplyDeleteWhat is a "high risk" employee? SSA should be specific. 60+ does that qualify based on age, or must there be an underlying condition.
ReplyDeleteThis whole situation is just terrible. Certain employees are now being singled out and ordered to come in at high risk, while others have telework. It seems to discriminate against those who do not have children in schools which are closed. What about field office employees who don't qualify and haver to continue doing face to face interviews. The FO reps are likely at the highest risk of anyone at SSA, and Ir's risky for the sick and disabled too.
What if disclosing an underlining health condition creates unconscious bias in the future if I apply for promotion? Food for thought. Is TW worth demanding people’s intimate details in this kind of situation?
ReplyDelete@6:15...yes, this is a matter of life or death for you...you won't be getting any promotions if you are six feet under
ReplyDelete@7:20 Lack of empathy. Got it.
ReplyDeleteThe State of Maryland has closed all public schools. Most HQ employees live in Maryland.
ReplyDeleteI'm under 60 and not particularly worried about catching the virus myself, if I do I'll most likely live. However, with a 4-5 day incubation day period, zero testing available in the area, and lots of questions still about how the virus is transmitted and how long people are contagious, my main concern is killing half of my coworkers who are all over 60 and help keep the mainframes humming at SSA. Between telework and a last-minute leave slip I don't have to be back at HQ until Thursday, by which time I expect they will have to re-evaluate this insane policy.
ReplyDelete