Image: Pratchaya.Lee/Shutterstock.com
By: FEDweek StaffThe House Oversight and Reform Committee has approved a bill (HR-8466) to require agencies to have safety plans meeting certain standards for work during the period of a public health emergency such as the current pandemic.
Those plans would have to address policies for those physically working onsite such as provision of personal protective equipment, testing, cleaning and occupancy limits; policies for those working offsite or in travel status; policies for employees or whose family members are at especially high health risk; provisions for reducing onsite work if there is a surge in cases locally; and continuity of operations considerations.
The bill also would require that employees be made aware of expectations, procedures and policies through both internal communications and public notices such as on agency websites, as well as points of contact for the agency IG or the Office of Special Counsel to report an agency not complying with its own policies.
Meanwhile, the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force has issued an update of its “model” agency policy on mask wearing, distancing, screening testing, travel and more. That pulls together several recent revisions that reflect a new general policy, based on the latest CDC guidance, of generally not making distinctions in those protocols based on vaccination status.
The model policy continues to include the administration’s vaccine mandate and policies related to it such as documentation requirements, although adding that those policies are not to be enforced while a court injunction against them remains in effect. The injunction also stopped consideration of requests for exceptions on religious or medical grounds but did not prevent agencies from imposing covid-related safety protocols in general.
The full Fifth Circuit federal appeals court recently heard oral arguments in that case; there is no specific timetable for a decision.
Clock Is Ticking Down on Renewing Agency Funding
After House Votes to Block another Schedule F, Focus Turns to Senate
House Expands Scope of Whistleblower Protection Bill
Continue Allowing Telework with Dependents in the Home, DoD Unions Urge
House Panel Seeks Information on Threats to Federal Workers
Bill Would Greatly Widen Eligibility for VA Employee Education Benefit, Says CBO
Slight Decline for 2023 COLA Count Through August
DHS Announces Hiring Surge for Customer Experience Initiative
See also,
Survivors Benefits in Federal Retirement
With FERS Annuity Indexed for Inflation, Fed Retirees Faring Better
