Return to work- fed edition

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:USDA was scheduled to phase back in Jan 3 - March, now delayed until further notice.

any update?

[Anonymous]

Mine went from “sometime in February” to “after February with no new specific target.” They will provide 30 days notice as originally indicated many many many months ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:USDA was scheduled to phase back in Jan 3 - March, now delayed until further notice.

any update?

I think they will tell us later this month what the new plan is.

[Anonymous]

DOD. We were given telework agreements to complete today. Only parameter we were given was that 100% telework would not be approved.

[Anonymous]

DOT finally got notice today that our return to work start date in 11 days is not happening. No date given, but we will have 30 days notice. Bout time!

[Anonymous]

Department of Labor pushed back “phase 1,” in which 25% of staff would be allowed to return to the office voluntarily, to the end of January.

Our own office? No official “return” planned until April.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DOD. We were given telework agreements to complete today. Only parameter we were given was that 100% telework would not be approved.

I assume they didn't tell you why? Not DOD but we are having same discussion.

[Anonymous]

HHS is going back in April.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Expanded telework starting in spring, but if you TW more than 3 days a week, no office, no cube, no desk, just hoteling. I understand it but will be bringing my own keyboard and mouse and hope we get lockers…

That's sounds crazy and near sighted and, for that, something my agency may try too. Which dept?

This type of arrangement was in place at a lot of agencies even pre-pandemic. It makes complete sense: employees get the benefit of more remote work and agencies get the benefit of reduced real estate expenses.

My agency never had it. I guess this means you have to share the equipment right - desk, computers, phone..etc.? Will you have to sanitize the office/desk every time you go in? Just wondering about the logistics when virus is still wide spread

Surface transmission is very, very rare — in fact, they’ve had difficulty replicating it in testing on a meaningful level at all. Shared air space is the issue and 15 mins/6 feet is no longer a thing with Omicron.

By the time the desk, computer, phone have sat overnight from whoever used them last, you’re fine, but you can always run a Chlorox wipe or similar over the surfaces you touch if you want to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Department of Labor pushed back “phase 1,” in which 25% of staff would be allowed to return to the office voluntarily, to the end of January.

Our own office? No official “return” planned until April.

I believe DOL' phase 1 has been pushed back again until late February.

So many parents (like me) ended up having kids home and/or /sick/quarantining in Dec & Jan it would have been really difficult to be back at the office in any capacity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:USDA was scheduled to phase back in Jan 3 - March, now delayed until further notice.

any update?

I think they will tell us later this month what the new plan is.

USDA phasing in - SES back Feb 28, all others roll in from March 28-May…11th I think? But depends on Agency.

Some Agencies have huge numbers going remote, permanently.

And in the office means…2 days per PP

[Anonymous]

I’m also wondering what return actually means.

[Anonymous]

DOI pushed back but we haven't received the official dates. Managers on March 28 I think. We also need to come in 2 days a pay period.

[Anonymous]

They should just push it back to the end of the school year, given all the complications for working families. We're almost there anyway.

[Anonymous]

My agency is saying in office 4 days per pay period, but date to return to office still TBD. I think they are considering the ongoing Metro situation too since that’s how most employees commute.