Stewards,

The Commissioner released the email below after AFGE/Agency did not reach an agreement to extend the telework pilot beyond 09/30/2022. Her message below did say some things will not change.

However, I have noticed a sudden (last 5 days) increase in the denial of RA request.

And, Today employees in some locations were told the TCA will be ending. The covid fact website list 09/30/2022 as the end of TCA’s, see exert below.

Please Keep sharing any information your management team provided to you and I will share it up the pipe line.

Exert:

38. What do I do if the school/care facility that my children or dependents (e.g., elders or dependent adults) attend is closed due to COVID-19?

Personal Leave

In situations where a dependent is in the house and requires care while you are teleworking, time spent providing care must be personal leave (e.g., sick leave, annual leave, credit hours, compensatory time), LWOP (if your supervisor approves based on operational needs), or flex-out. Telework is not a substitute for normal leave to care for family members. You must notify your supervisor during your telework day and request approval of leave when appropriate. For any days you are scheduled to be in the office, you may request to take personal leave or report to work.

Episodic Telework

With supervisory approval, you may be approved for episodic telework on additional days when children are learning remotely as a result of a verified COVID-related school closure, of when a dependent care facility is closed due to a COVID-related reason. You must provide your supervisor with documentation verifying the school or facility closure when requesting episodic telework. Employees must support episodic telework requests with evidence. Supervisors must approve requests for episodic telework in advance of being effective. Supervisors will not approve requests on an interim basis while the employee gathers documentation.

Temporary Compassionate Assignment (TCA)

Supervisors will normally approve TCA requests from employees with a documented inability to enroll children in in-person learning. Full time in-person learning applies to school-age children (i.e., kindergarten and above), and these TCAs will not exceed the 2021-2022 school year. These arrangements are temporary assignments to employees ADS. Employees must therefore have a telework-ready ADS and be telework eligible. Employees should consult their supervisors for more information about documentation requirements and next steps for requesting a TCA.

Similarly, supervisors will normally approve TCA requests from employees with dependent family members located in their household deemed ‘high risk for COVID’. The medical provider may assess the risk as defined by CDC guidelines. This is limited to “household” members, so employees will not qualify based on caregiving for family members in other households, having temporary visitors in the home, or having other individuals (e.g., grandparents, family members, friends) providing daytime care to dependents in their home. Medical documentation must have a provider signature, but the medical provider should not provide specific conditions or genetic information. Employees should consult their supervisors for more information about documentation requirements and next steps for requesting a TCA.

TCA requests will remain in effect for 60 days from the date of approval. Employees must provide updated documentation to their supervisors every 60 days if they continue to meet the TCA requirements. TCA requests must be documented and approved in advance of being effective. Supervisors will not approve requests on an interim basis while documentation is gathered.

These temporary provisions will no longer be available as of September 30, 2022.

Link to website  Medical Office – 2019 Novel Coronavirus

Cheryl Bellamy-Bonner
AFGE Local 1395- President

C-109 Exec Vice President

C-109 OUTTS Designee

Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin

MOBILE:  833-575-1395 ext. 701

Secured FAX 312-277-7598

E-MAIL:  afge1395@sbcglobal.net

AFGE LOCAL 1395 Website: www.afge1395.org

FACEBOOK:  AFGE Local 1395 (Members ONLY)

“Strength Comes in Numbers”