RTO - situational TW

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

They’re correct.

[Anonymous]

I’ve barely used any sick leave at all over the past few years because I could schedule appointments close to my house, take an hour and a half and go home and finish my work day. How is that abuse?

[Anonymous]

As a parent of little kids with a 2 hour commute (I sought out a remote job because we live near my spouse's 5 day a week in person job), let me tell you how this is going to work.

I'm going to have to use a full day of leave for every appointment and every kid sick day, instead of a few hours split with my partner and/or making up work late. When I inevitably catch the flu or whatever after being home with sick kids, I'll be too low on leave to stay home longer, so I'll be bringing my illness on the train, metro, and into the office.

This is how it was with my oldest before I had a telework friendly job. I went in with pinkeye. I went in coughing and sneezing all day. I just didn't have the leave.

[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.

The normal answer would be talk to your manager. I think the answer at this time and in this situation you have a choice. Right now, I wouldn't stick my neck out and ask for a situational telework agreement right now. Folks will have to get over rescheduling. It's unlikely that anything you are doing is a life or death situation that can't wait a day or move forward without you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a parent of little kids with a 2 hour commute (I sought out a remote job because we live near my spouse's 5 day a week in person job), let me tell you how this is going to work.

I'm going to have to use a full day of leave for every appointment and every kid sick day, instead of a few hours split with my partner and/or making up work late. When I inevitably catch the flu or whatever after being home with sick kids, I'll be too low on leave to stay home longer, so I'll be bringing my illness on the train, metro, and into the office.

This is how it was with my oldest before I had a telework friendly job. I went in with pinkeye. I went in coughing and sneezing all day. I just didn't have the leave.

I have sympathy for you because this is new, but know that many of us have dealt with this all along and are proof that you’ll be okay.

[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.

Or, more likely, people are coming in when they don’t feel well and spreading their germs around, when last month they would have stayed home, gotten just as much done, recovered faster, and not gotten coworkers sick.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a parent of little kids with a 2 hour commute (I sought out a remote job because we live near my spouse's 5 day a week in person job), let me tell you how this is going to work.

I'm going to have to use a full day of leave for every appointment and every kid sick day, instead of a few hours split with my partner and/or making up work late. When I inevitably catch the flu or whatever after being home with sick kids, I'll be too low on leave to stay home longer, so I'll be bringing my illness on the train, metro, and into the office.

This is how it was with my oldest before I had a telework friendly job. I went in with pinkeye. I went in coughing and sneezing all day. I just didn't have the leave.

I have sympathy for you because this is new, but know that many of us have dealt with this all along and are proof that you’ll be okay.

The answer is to make it better for you, not drag us down and make it worse for us.

I will not work a minute on a snow days, after hours, etc. Trump has changed the terms and conditions of my employment. 2 can play at this game. You will not get one SECOND of gratuitous work from me (like you do now).

[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.

The normal answer would be talk to your manager. I think the answer at this time and in this situation you have a choice. Right now, I wouldn't stick my neck out and ask for a situational telework agreement right now. Folks will have to get over rescheduling. It's unlikely that anything you are doing is a life or death situation that can't wait a day or move forward without you.

You know what they did at my office was they called us in starting tomorrow, but they haven't cancelled the telework agreement either (I don't think- I haven't received anything officially cancelling it). There's some obscure section in the regulations saying they can require us to be in office at any time despite the telework agreement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a parent of little kids with a 2 hour commute (I sought out a remote job because we live near my spouse's 5 day a week in person job), let me tell you how this is going to work.

I'm going to have to use a full day of leave for every appointment and every kid sick day, instead of a few hours split with my partner and/or making up work late. When I inevitably catch the flu or whatever after being home with sick kids, I'll be too low on leave to stay home longer, so I'll be bringing my illness on the train, metro, and into the office.

This is how it was with my oldest before I had a telework friendly job. I went in with pinkeye. I went in coughing and sneezing all day. I just didn't have the leave.

A two hour commute? How are you within 50 miles?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Or, more likely, people are coming in when they don’t feel well and spreading their germs around, when last month they would have stayed home, gotten just as much done, recovered faster, and not gotten coworkers sick.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a parent of little kids with a 2 hour commute (I sought out a remote job because we live near my spouse's 5 day a week in person job), let me tell you how this is going to work.

I'm going to have to use a full day of leave for every appointment and every kid sick day, instead of a few hours split with my partner and/or making up work late. When I inevitably catch the flu or whatever after being home with sick kids, I'll be too low on leave to stay home longer, so I'll be bringing my illness on the train, metro, and into the office.

This is how it was with my oldest before I had a telework friendly job. I went in with pinkeye. I went in coughing and sneezing all day. I just didn't have the leave.

A two hour commute? How are you within 50 miles?

NP here. I live 19 miles from my office (which moved further from me last year). Taking public transportation is a 64 minute ride alone, not including a 20 min drive to the metro station plus a 15 walk once off the metro. I could easily imagine someone having a 2 hour commute even if they live within 50 miles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Or, more likely, people are coming in when they don’t feel well and spreading their germs around, when last month they would have stayed home, gotten just as much done, recovered faster, and not gotten coworkers sick.

+1

Yup. People will just come in or take whole days off, or just not go to the dentist or get their mammograms, like the good old days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a parent of little kids with a 2 hour commute (I sought out a remote job because we live near my spouse's 5 day a week in person job), let me tell you how this is going to work.

I'm going to have to use a full day of leave for every appointment and every kid sick day, instead of a few hours split with my partner and/or making up work late. When I inevitably catch the flu or whatever after being home with sick kids, I'll be too low on leave to stay home longer, so I'll be bringing my illness on the train, metro, and into the office.

This is how it was with my oldest before I had a telework friendly job. I went in with pinkeye. I went in coughing and sneezing all day. I just didn't have the leave.

A two hour commute? How are you within 50 miles?

Sign. Someone else who doesn't understand DC area traffic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a parent of little kids with a 2 hour commute (I sought out a remote job because we live near my spouse's 5 day a week in person job), let me tell you how this is going to work.

I'm going to have to use a full day of leave for every appointment and every kid sick day, instead of a few hours split with my partner and/or making up work late. When I inevitably catch the flu or whatever after being home with sick kids, I'll be too low on leave to stay home longer, so I'll be bringing my illness on the train, metro, and into the office.

This is how it was with my oldest before I had a telework friendly job. I went in with pinkeye. I went in coughing and sneezing all day. I just didn't have the leave.

A two hour commute? How are you within 50 miles?

You clearly do not live the DC area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a parent of little kids with a 2 hour commute (I sought out a remote job because we live near my spouse's 5 day a week in person job), let me tell you how this is going to work.

I'm going to have to use a full day of leave for every appointment and every kid sick day, instead of a few hours split with my partner and/or making up work late. When I inevitably catch the flu or whatever after being home with sick kids, I'll be too low on leave to stay home longer, so I'll be bringing my illness on the train, metro, and into the office.

This is how it was with my oldest before I had a telework friendly job. I went in with pinkeye. I went in coughing and sneezing all day. I just didn't have the leave.

A two hour commute? How are you within 50 miles?

49 miles and work in a dense part of DC.