The two largest federal employee unions said Thursday steps to protect the federal workforce from the rapid spread of the coronavirus were falling short.
Other agencies, such as the Social Security Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency, have loosened telework restrictions and announced unscheduled remote options for federal employees at regional offices in Seattle, Washington, and New York.
New paid parental leave benefits will be ready by the Oct. 1 deadline, the Office of Personnel Management said Monday in a letter to the National Treasury Employees Union. NTEU had raised doubts about OPM's plans for implementing the new law.
The Office of Personnel Management has more guidance on telework, sick leave and other options as agencies prepare their workforces for the growing spread of the coronavirus.
The largest federal employee union is also urging the Office of Personnel Management to allow all telework-eligible workers to begin immediately working remotely.
In today's Federal Newscast, members of Congress are taking different approaches to make sure agency telework policies remain unhindered.
New telework schedules and policies went into effect for employees at the Social Security Administration this week. But the agency shows no signs of easing those policies amid growing concern over the spread of coronavirus.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Cooperation is announcing buyouts for about 20% of its employees, which the agency said is part of an effort to streamline supervisory layers and address challenges associated with a rapidly aging workforce.
For thousands of federal employees for whom travel is a part of the job, the coronavirus is a new threat.
Corona virus should make SSA management get over its telework allergy
The Office of Personnel Management instructed agencies to ensure their employees are "telework capable," amid growing concerns over the coronavirus. Telework-eligible Air Force employees at the Pentagon will conduct a "capacity test" Friday to ensure they're equipped to work remotely.
Lobotomizing of federal telework programs could be happening for a couple of reasons but the coronavirus is presenting a new test of that trend.
Warning of long lines and flight delays, the union representing Transportation Security Administration officers said airports are understaffed, officers underpaid.
J. David Cox, the national president of the largest federal employee union, has resigned amid a months-long sexual harassment investigation.
A bipartisan group of senators is urging President Donald Trump to reconsider a recent memo he issued to the Defense Department, which allows the secretary and other senior officials to exclude the DoD civilian workforce from collective bargaining.