Flu season is in full effect and OPM has issued guidance on the use of workplace flexibilities and encourage sick employees to stay home: http://www.chcoc.gov/transmittals/TransmittalDetails.aspx?TransmittalID=5256
According to the guidance, when necessary, agencies should consider implementing "social distancing," including the use of telework.
OPM said that when a supervisor observes an employee exhibiting medical symptoms, he or she may express general concern regarding the employee’s health and remind the employee of his or her leave options for seeking medical attention, such as requesting sick or annual leave.
If the employee has no leave available, supervisors are authorized to approve requests for advanced leave or leave without pay in certain circumstances, and when these leave options are not practical, a viable alternative in many cases is for the employee to work from home under a voluntary telework agreement.
If those options are not possible, supervisors have the authority to place an employee on paid, excused absence and order him or her to stay at home or away from the workplace, OPM said.
It said the duration of any such excused absence is dependent on the specific circumstances but is typically a short period, and that placing an employee on excused absence is fully within an agency’s discretion and does not require the consent or request of the employee.
Supervisors should not place an employee on excused absence without first checking with their HR staff for agency policy on excused absence, OPM cautioned.