RTO - situational TW

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been told zero leniency and it’s only for when office is closed (which is sometimes when there are protests in the streets, snow or the internet stops working at work).

I have little kids and am constantly sick. So far I’ve had Covid, flu, enterovirus and pink eye 3x (omg we keep passing it around! It’s the worst). I have sick leave but does work really want me coming in when I’m coughing and likely still contagious? I’d be taking a week a month of sick leave during winter.

Another coworker is getting knee surgery. He’s taking the first 2 weeks off but was hoping to telework until he’s able to drive to work.

People taking nonstop leave will really hinder our productivity

Sick leave is very abused in the govt even more so that people were working remote instead of using sick leave .

Maybe I'm misreading, but what's wrong with that? I routinely scheduled doctors appointments outside of core hours and routinely worked earlier or later to avoid a loss of a couple of hours of productivity instead of taking the leave. You're saying that is an abuse? My commute is 1.5 one way so now I will just take the whole day off if I cannot telework.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I foresee mandatory situational telework coming, so feds will be required to work from home during inclement weather. If we get a storm this week and the government closes, they can't require us to work because our agreements are void

I work in a non fed government position. For us, you can either TW or use leave for weather events - no more adm leave. For sick you need to use a sick day - no TW. If you’re too sick to come in you’re too sick for us to pay you for the day.

Not sure I agree with this stance totally but when we t was more lax the abuse was rampant. You wouldn’t believe how often people were sick when they could TW but how infrequent it is under the new rules. So it’s hard to criticize. Really it hasn’t affected anyone who wasn’t abusing the opportunity.

I mean if you’re staying home sick or recovering from surgery you’re gonna get paid either way. Seems more efficient to let people work instead of paying them to play video games or whatever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I really hope HHS provides guidance for us in writing. This will benefit both sides.

Signed a fed manager who employees may try to abuse this loophole.

I think we will know this coming week. That is when they said new agreements will be made available.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our agency has said situational is ok. Immediate manager has claimed its fine for Dr appointments and other non reoccurring things but I am suspicious.

My supervisor said No telework for Dr appointment anymore, if there is an appointment in the middle of day, then employee may need to take whole day off, it is unlikely that employee will go to office for a few hours.

Did you have people abusing that? I have someone that had a medical appointment every day last week. She previously talked about scheduling appointments specifically to make a case for situational telework. I wouldn't ordinarily care, but it is going to look awfully suspicious if they look at timesheets and see she didn't come in at all one week.

Absent of any other direction from senior mangement, other than that situational telework is supposed be rare, I'm inclined to make my own policy that you need to some in-person for a portion of the day when yoi request situational telework for appointments.

She should be fired for being an idiot that takes doctors appointments every single day.

At first I thought she was just trying to take care of everything before we lost situational telework, but then it got ridiculous.

If you have too many sick days you must get a doctor's note

You can be asked for doctors note but a supervisor doesn’t have to ask (at least at my agency).

[Anonymous]

I am fortunate that I have a lot of sick leave saved. I am going to use it whenever I need it which will mean using a full day whenever I have an appointment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I foresee mandatory situational telework coming, so feds will be required to work from home during inclement weather. If we get a storm this week and the government closes, they can't require us to work because our agreements are void

I work in a non fed government position. For us, you can either TW or use leave for weather events - no more adm leave. For sick you need to use a sick day - no TW. If you’re too sick to come in you’re too sick for us to pay you for the day.

Not sure I agree with this stance totally but when we t was more lax the abuse was rampant. You wouldn’t believe how often people were sick when they could TW but how infrequent it is under the new rules. So it’s hard to criticize. Really it hasn’t affected anyone who wasn’t abusing the opportunity.

I mean if you’re staying home sick or recovering from surgery you’re gonna get paid either way. Seems more efficient to let people work instead of paying them to play video games or whatever.

Problem is that people were “sick” weekly or more when they could TW. Now that there’s no TW for that, people are amazingly healthy and not needing sick time.

Also for a surgery if a person really can work, they can secure an ADA accommodation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I foresee mandatory situational telework coming, so feds will be required to work from home during inclement weather. If we get a storm this week and the government closes, they can't require us to work because our agreements are void

I work in a non fed government position. For us, you can either TW or use leave for weather events - no more adm leave. For sick you need to use a sick day - no TW. If you’re too sick to come in you’re too sick for us to pay you for the day.

Not sure I agree with this stance totally but when we t was more lax the abuse was rampant. You wouldn’t believe how often people were sick when they could TW but how infrequent it is under the new rules. So it’s hard to criticize. Really it hasn’t affected anyone who wasn’t abusing the opportunity.

I mean if you’re staying home sick or recovering from surgery you’re gonna get paid either way. Seems more efficient to let people work instead of paying them to play video games or whatever.

Problem is that people were “sick” weekly or more when they could TW. Now that there’s no TW for that, people are amazingly healthy and not needing sick time.

Also for a surgery if a person really can work, they can secure an ADA accommodation.

Cool story.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I foresee mandatory situational telework coming, so feds will be required to work from home during inclement weather. If we get a storm this week and the government closes, they can't require us to work because our agreements are void

I work in a non fed government position. For us, you can either TW or use leave for weather events - no more adm leave. For sick you need to use a sick day - no TW. If you’re too sick to come in you’re too sick for us to pay you for the day.

Not sure I agree with this stance totally but when we t was more lax the abuse was rampant. You wouldn’t believe how often people were sick when they could TW but how infrequent it is under the new rules. So it’s hard to criticize. Really it hasn’t affected anyone who wasn’t abusing the opportunity.

I mean if you’re staying home sick or recovering from surgery you’re gonna get paid either way. Seems more efficient to let people work instead of paying them to play video games or whatever.

Problem is that people were “sick” weekly or more when they could TW. Now that there’s no TW for that, people are amazingly healthy and not needing sick time.

Also for a surgery if a person really can work, they can secure an ADA accommodation.

Feds get 13 sick days a year, or 2 hours a week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am fortunate that I have a lot of sick leave saved. I am going to use it whenever I need it which will mean using a full day whenever I have an appointment.

I'm not. Sick leave counts toward my years for retirement. I won't be taking sick leave unless my fever is 103 and I can't get out of bed. Otherwise I'll be in the office.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am fortunate that I have a lot of sick leave saved. I am going to use it whenever I need it which will mean using a full day whenever I have an appointment.

I'm not. Sick leave counts toward my years for retirement. I won't be taking sick leave unless my fever is 103 and I can't get out of bed. Otherwise I'll be in the office.

It doesn’t add much to retirement. It adds only to the pension and not to your eligibility.

Much more valuable as time off to me.

[Anonymous]

Probably differs by agency or even supervisor but we were told we could use it for:

Inclement weather
“Sick days” as in possibly contagious but well enough to work
Doctor’s appointment. As in your doctor is near your home but far from work so you do part of the day in office and the other part at home via telework before or after the appointment.

The main thing that was stressed was that telework could not be reoccurring in any way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I foresee mandatory situational telework coming, so feds will be required to work from home during inclement weather. If we get a storm this week and the government closes, they can't require us to work because our agreements are void

I work in a non fed government position. For us, you can either TW or use leave for weather events - no more adm leave. For sick you need to use a sick day - no TW. If you’re too sick to come in you’re too sick for us to pay you for the day.

Not sure I agree with this stance totally but when we t was more lax the abuse was rampant. You wouldn’t believe how often people were sick when they could TW but how infrequent it is under the new rules. So it’s hard to criticize. Really it hasn’t affected anyone who wasn’t abusing the opportunity.

I mean if you’re staying home sick or recovering from surgery you’re gonna get paid either way. Seems more efficient to let people work instead of paying them to play video games or whatever.

Problem is that people were “sick” weekly or more when they could TW. Now that there’s no TW for that, people are amazingly healthy and not needing sick time.

Also for a surgery if a person really can work, they can secure an ADA accommodation.

People are just going to come to the office sick and spread their germs. I would rather have them home and teleworking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone gotten guidance from their agency on allowable use of ad hoc/situational TW with 100% RTO?

Is it solely for OPM closures (weather or otherwise)?

Would it be allowed as an alternative to taking a sick day when you can’t come into the office?

There are many instances where I’ve been sick (and contagious), but able to work at least a few hours to attend to highest priority tasks and meetings. With elimination of TW, would I just need to take the 8 hrs of sick leave? I have plenty, so the hours aren’t the issue, but I could see it being really annoying to have to reschedule meetings all them, esp with busy colleagues who are difficult to book time with.

Why would anyone agree to situational telework if it only serves to benefit the employer?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Supervisor said she has no guidance for what it means, but assumes it’s only weather.

I had foot surgery last year. I was able to telework while recovering even though I could barely walk for 2 weeks. I guess employees will just have to take weeks of sick leave in these instances now.

Correct.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone gotten guidance from their agency on allowable use of ad hoc/situational TW with 100% RTO?

Is it solely for OPM closures (weather or otherwise)?

Would it be allowed as an alternative to taking a sick day when you can’t come into the office?

There are many instances where I’ve been sick (and contagious), but able to work at least a few hours to attend to highest priority tasks and meetings. With elimination of TW, would I just need to take the 8 hrs of sick leave? I have plenty, so the hours aren’t the issue, but I could see it being really annoying to have to reschedule meetings all them, esp with busy colleagues who are difficult to book time with.

Why would anyone agree to situational telework if it only serves to benefit the employer?

NP and while I appreciate the sentiment if you have kids in school I would give it some thought. There are times when school is delayed and OPM is open but allows situational TW. I think that is a huge benefit to signing the agreement to not have to take leave or scramble for someone to be home with your child and get them on the bus. Also other times when OPM is open but allows TW and the roads might be iffy by you.