Federal employees have official permission from OPM and HHS to stay home if they are sick with the flu rather than going to work anyway and risk infecting others.
A joint memo asks employees to “please consider staying home if you develop symptoms” of the flu and encourages them to get the annual flu short, noting that “most FEHB plans cover flu shots at pharmacies and retail stores, in addition to doctor’s offices and clinics, with no co-pays. Additionally, many federal agencies offer flu shots onsite at no or low cost. Ask your agency to see if this option is available to you.”
It further suggests that when getting flu shots, employees ask about any other vaccinations that may be appropriate. “Besides seasonal flu, adults are at risk for a number of vaccine-preventable diseases such as pneumonia, shingles, whooping cough, and hepatitis. Other vaccines are recommended for adults depending on age, lifestyle, health status, travel plans, and previous immunizations,” it says.
OPM and HHS have sent out similar memos annually in recent years ahead of the flu season.
