From Government Executive:
Following the new public health guidance issued last week, the White House said fully vaccinated federal employees, contractors and visitors are no longer required to wear masks in federal buildings.
The Office of Management and Budget sent all federal agencies an email to supplement the updated guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday, which said vaccinated individuals do not need masks outside and in most indoor settings ...
“For now, this change related to masking is the only change to federal workplace COVID-19 safety guidance – maximum telework and workplace occupancy limits remain in place – but we will continue to update based on public health guidance,” said OMB’s message. “If you are not fully vaccinated (at least two weeks past your final dose), please continue to wear a mask consistent with the requirements set forth in your agency workplace safety plan.” ...
“OMB, through the President’s Management Council, with [the Office of Personnel Management] and [General Services Administration], will continue to work with your agencies on the planning already underway related to the federal personnel policies and work environment for after it is safe for increased return of federal workers to the physical workplace,” said the email ...
8 comments:
If the mask mandate ends for everyone on July 1 as expected, it will be hard to justify keeping offices closed. I just hope the Agency still allows some form of telework for all employees, not 100% but 2-3 days a week could be helpful.
This announcement seems premature. There are still hundreds of new COVID19 cases every day in Maryland, where SSA National HQ and PC7 is located.
Nine members of the NY Yankees team and staff just tested positive after they were fully vaccinated. The current theory is they caught it in the indoor training or locker room.
The vaccines are not perfect shields. How many SSA employees or members of the general public could catch COVID19, if the SSA offices are reopened and people walk around unmasked?
Who knows what the long term health consequences could be from being infected. Some of the "long haulers" with long term health problems, initially had mild COVID symptoms.
Actions have consequences. When Saul ended telework in 2019, I took off 3 weeks of leave starting the day I was supposed to return to the office. If SSA ends telework again, I will immediately retire.
I like working from home, I can do my job perfectly well from home, and I am not going to spend hours commuting for no good reason. I've also heard coworkers saying the same thing.
Ending telework would result in more retirements, leave usage, and trouble retaining and recruiting good employees. I'd prefer 100% telework but there should be at least 3 days per week telework if the offices are reopened.
They are currently in pre-phase 1 planning for reopening, so it is probably going to be a while before any plans are announced.
@8:34 SSA management at all levels does not care about the health and welfare of their employees. So, reopening should occur any day now despite the absurdity of doing so.
Thanks for this info. I doubt the offices will begin to reopen prior to Labor Day, but it's anyone's guess. I think the forced telework experiment will ultimately lead the closure of the FOs. I doubt there will be brick and morter locations in 2050.
If you believed them to shut down you should believe them to open up. Time for the country to move forward. Dont want to come along, I hear there are a lot of job openings.
If a mask makes you feel better wear it. Nobody said it is 100% required not to wear a mask when vaccinated.
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