Return to work- fed edition

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went in to my office for computer help today and was probably exposed to COVID. Just got an email about a case 5-6 days ago that was around the people I was around today. As a fed masks are still required but no one was wearing one but me.

Personally I don’t care because I am young and healthy, but I’ll absolutely be submitting a workers comp claim and milking sick leave if I get COVID. My biggest fear is spreading to older family this weekend. And of fcking course at home rapid tests can’t be reimbursed til sometime in January.

This is my issue with contact tracing at this stage of the pandemic- it is largely pointless.

You were near someone who was near someone who had COVID. I would bet that has happened to you at least a dozen times in the last 18 months. Only difference here is that you know it.

And can you explain what it means to "milk sick leave"?

[Anonymous]

Milking sick leave to me means I have 7 weeks of banked sick leave and I will not be lifting a finger to telework if I caught COVID from the office.

There is no other time in the pandemic I have spent extended (multiple hours) time with completely unmasked individuals whose vaccination status is unknown to me who were exposed to COVID within the last week.

[Anonymous]

https://d1ocufyfjsc14h.cloudfront.net/sites/default/files/feca_outreach_-_arpa_covid-19_final-2.pdf

Federal employees forced back to the office should get their FECA claims in in case they develop medical problems related to COVID down the line. I know I will document document document.

[Anonymous]

Department of Transportation is moving everyone back into office at least one day a week starting mid-Jan to mid-Feb.

[Anonymous]

The OPM released guidance on telework a month ago. It states a suggestion of 2 days per pay period. You all are acting you can't see the writing on the wall - no mandate, no permanence.

https://chcoc.gov/sites/default/files/Telework-Guide-2021_0.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The OPM released guidance on telework a month ago. It states a suggestion of 2 days per pay period. You all are acting you can't see the writing on the wall - no mandate, no permanence.

https://chcoc.gov/sites/default/files/Telework-Guide-2021_0.pdf

Implementation is up to each agency

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://d1ocufyfjsc14h.cloudfront.net/sites/default/files/feca_outreach_-_arpa_covid-19_final-2.pdf

Federal employees forced back to the office should get their FECA claims in in case they develop medical problems related to COVID down the line. I know I will document document document.

I don’t know anything about this but what benefits does it offer?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The OPM released guidance on telework a month ago. It states a suggestion of 2 days per pay period. You all are acting you can't see the writing on the wall - no mandate, no permanence.

https://chcoc.gov/sites/default/files/Telework-Guide-2021_0.pdf

My agency’s workforce is represented by NTEU. I promise they don’t think there’s any writing on the wall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The OPM released guidance on telework a month ago. It states a suggestion of 2 days per pay period. You all are acting you can't see the writing on the wall - no mandate, no permanence.

https://chcoc.gov/sites/default/files/Telework-Guide-2021_0.pdf

It doesn't say that- at all. It references long-standing guidance-that has not changed-- regarding implications to official duty station when employees do not report to a govt. building at least two days per pay period. It is frustratingly silent on any concrete guidance at all on telework.

It also has an entire section on fulltime remote work arrangements.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The OPM released guidance on telework a month ago. It states a suggestion of 2 days per pay period. You all are acting you can't see the writing on the wall - no mandate, no permanence.

https://chcoc.gov/sites/default/files/Telework-Guide-2021_0.pdf

My agency’s workforce is represented by NTEU. I promise they don’t think there’s any writing on the wall.

Meaning what? My agency is also represented by NTEU and despite their efforts we’ve been back since early November 2 days per week.

[Anonymous]

We have been back since the second week of November. We have had multiple COVID cases and they will not tell us how they are doing contact tracing. We've had people deeply impacted by acquiring COVID while at work (presumably) since they don't go anywhere else. The only thing we get from senior management is that they are so happy to see people in the office. At least we got record responses to the OPM survey.

[Anonymous]

HHS return is indefinitely delayed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:HHS return is indefinitely delayed.

Are you HHS? Did you attend the All-Hands? Short on anything concrete.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:HHS return is indefinitely delayed.

Are you HHS? Did you attend the All-Hands? Short on anything concrete.

Yes that is why I say indefinitely. They provided no timeline.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:HHS return is indefinitely delayed.

Are you HHS? Did you attend the All-Hands? Short on anything concrete.

Liberal telework looks set to continue for a good while, no?