August 1, 2024

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Federal Election Commission

Workplace Safety Plan for Respiratory Viruses

I. Purpose

The health and safety of all Federal Election Commission (FEC or “the Agency”) employees 

continues to be an ongoing priority for the Agency. Pursuant to the Office of Management and 

Budget’s (OMB) Memorandum M-24-12, “Updated Guidance Regarding COVID-19 Safe 

Federal Workplace: Agency Model Safety Principles and COVID-19 Workplace Safety Plans,”1

this Workplace Safety Plan (“Plan”) has been developed to support the ongoing and longer-term 

federal efforts to maintain a safe and healthy federal workplace and ensure future preparedness,

consistent with Executive Order 14122, “COVID-19 and Public Health Preparedness and 

Response”2 and relevant guidance from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and Centers 

for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding respiratory viruses. The Plan provides 

minimum mandatory safety guidance for respiratory illnesses in the workplace in accordance 

with the aforementioned guidance and supersedes previous versions of the Agency’s “FEC 

COVID-19 Workplace Safety Plan.” To protect FEC employees, contractors, and visitors from 

respiratory illness, the Agency will follow the health and safety protocols and procedures 

outlined in this Plan. 

II. Coordination Teams

The Office of the Staff Director (OSD) will serve as the lead, as needed, for planning, response, 

and management regarding respiratory illnesses as they relate to the protection of the FEC 

workforce and those with whom we come into contact. OSD may constitute a Coordination 

Team (Team), if and as needed, to serve in an advisory role to the Commission in resolving 

matters that are crucial to the development and implementation of safety guidelines and 

supplemental guidance. Where appropriate, the Team may consult with other federal agencies, 

including OPM, OMB, CDC, and the General Service Administration (GSA). The Team may 

form subgroups, or workgroups, with representatives from other offices in the Agency to help 

support and inform the work of the Team.

During periods of time when enhanced safety protocols are required, OSD and the Team, if 

constituted, will be responsible for communicating with FEC employees and implementing any 

required protocols and/or training.

III. Health and Safety Standards for Respiratory Illnesses

a. CDC Respiratory Virus Guidance

The CDC evaluates the ongoing threat of respiratory viruses by monitoring key drivers and 

indicators such as the availability of protective tools (e.g., vaccines and treatments), the 

1 M-24-12-Regarding-COVID-19-Safe-Federal-Workplace.pdf (whitehouse.gov) 2 Federal Register: COVID-19 and Public Health Preparedness and Response
August 1, 2024

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effectiveness of those tools, the level of population immunity, and cases of hospitalization and 

death.3

 The CDC maintains guidance, including Respiratory Virus Guidance, as a result of this 

evaluation.

4

 The CDC guidance covers most common respiratory illnesses that cause significant 

amounts of disease, including COVID-19, flu, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).5 

The FEC will follow the CDC’s guidance regarding handling respiratory viruses in the 

workplace, to the extent practicable and allowable by law, including:

• What to do if you have a respiratory virus,

• When you can resume your normal activities,

• Additional precautions you need to take when resuming your normal activities, 

and 

• Special considerations for people with certain risk factors for severe illness.

b. Sick Leave and Medical Telework

In general, employees who are sick are advised to stay home. If you are sick, you can use 

accrued sick leave or other leave to account for that time or, if you feel well enough to work, 

request Medical Telework pursuant to the applicable workplace flexibilities program available

for use by bargaining unit or non-bargaining unit employees.

c. Administrative Leave for COVID-19 Vaccinations

Pursuant to OPM’s guidance in CPM 2024-08,

6 employees may be granted up to 4 hours of 

administrative leave to receive an updated COVID-19 vaccine dose, as recommended by the 

CDC. This leave can be used to travel to and from the vaccination site. If an employee needs to 

spend less time getting the vaccination, only the needed amount of administrative leave will be 

granted. Employees must obtain advance approval from their supervisor before using 

administrative leave for the purpose of getting a COVID-19 vaccine. A supervisor retains the 

ability to approve leave during a time period that will not unduly interfere with work 

requirements. Employees may not be credited with administrative leave or overtime work for 

time spent outside of their tour of duty getting a COVID-19 vaccine.7

d. Other Safety Measures

As the landscape changes regarding respiratory viruses, the Agency may enact additional safety 

protocols pursuant to guidance from the CDC and other federal agencies such as OMB, OPM, 

3 Background for CDC's Updated Respiratory Virus Guidance | Respiratory Illnesses | CDC

4 Respiratory Virus Guidance (cdc.gov)

5 The guidance may not apply in certain outbreak situations where more specific guidance may be needed.

6 Leave policies related to COVID-19 Vaccinations and Boosters for Federal Employees | CHCOC 7 OPM has determined that it is no longer warranted to provide administrative leave to assist a family member in 

getting a COVID-19 vaccine, an employee experiencing an adverse reaction to a COVID-19 vaccine, or when an 

employee has COVID-19 symptoms and is isolating while actively seeking to be tested. Upon an employee’s 

request, supervisors may approve sick leave for these circumstances. Employees may also choose to seek approval 

to use other paid or unpaid time off in lieu of sick leave.
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and GSA, as appropriate, in addition to the general safety protocols outlined in Section IV, 

“General Safety Protocols,” of this Plan. 

e. Safety Training

All FEC employees must review and familiarize themselves with this Workplace Safety Plan. In 

addition, employees may also be required to complete mandatory safety trainings in accordance 

with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) or other requirements, as needed.

f. Confidentiality

Any medical information collected from Agency personnel, including information obtained as a 

result of implementing respiratory virus guidance, will be treated confidentially in accordance 

with applicable law, and accessible only by those with a need to know in order to protect the 

health and safety of personnel and manage respiratory virus procedures.

IV. General Safety Protocols

a. Hygiene

To prevent the transmission of all respiratory viruses, respiratory hygiene should be practiced by 

everyone.

• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue or mask, or use the inside of your elbow, 

and then throw the tissue away in the trash and immediately wash your hands.

• Do not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially if 

you have been in a public space, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or 

sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that 

contains at least 60 percent alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them 

together until they feel dry.

• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily.

The Agency has posted signage in FEC space regarding the importance of proper hand washing 

in protecting themselves from serious illness. Employees should use an alcohol-based hand 

sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol if washing with soap and water is not an option. The 

Agency will stock and refill hand sanitizer dispensers in locations that are readily accessible to 

employees working onsite.

b. Personal Protective Equipment

The Agency will continue to provide general personal protective equipment, including gloves 

and face masks, for general use by FEC employees, as needed. During periods of time when 

face masks are required in the FEC workspaces, employees will follow CDC guidelines 

regarding types of masks that are acceptable for use. Individuals may be asked to lower their 

masks briefly for identification purposes in compliance with safety and security requirements. 
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Employees who cannot safely wear a face covering or mask due to a health condition should 

notify their supervisor or contact the Agency’s EEO Disability Program Manager so that 

alternative arrangements or accommodations can be made.

c. Environmental Cleaning

The Agency will provide CDC, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and/or EPA-approved 

cleaning supplies, including cleaning wipes and spray, for employee use in their own workspaces 

and in common areas in which they work. These are available upon request to the Administrative 

Services Division.

d. Elevators

Until further notice, three elevators in the building lobby will be designated for FEC use only. 

Employees, contractors, and FEC visitors should use these elevators to access the FEC’s floors of 

the building. 

V. Compliance

a. Failure to Comply

Employees who fail to comply with the requirements of this Plan may be subject to disciplinary 

action in accordance with applicable Agency policies. 

b. Reporting Non-Compliance

Employees may report non-compliance with the Plan, including failure to follow safety 

protocols, to their first-line supervisor or to the Physical Security Officer.

VI. Questions or Concerns

Employees with questions about this Plan may submit those questions to the Deputy Staff 

Director for Management and Administration, the Office of Human Resources, or the 

Administrative Services Division.

Any individual who has questions or concerns about implementation of and compliance with the 

health and safety measures and general safety protocols set forth in this Plan should submit those 

questions or concerns to the Physical Security Officer. 

Employees with questions about administrative leave for vaccinations, medical telework, or 

other workplace flexibilities available, as outlined in this Plan, should submit those questions to 

the Office of Human Resources.

Questions relating to the Agency’s treatment of personal medical information in the context of its 

respiratory illness-related workplace safety protocols should be submitted to the Director of 

Human Resources.
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VII. Modifications to the Workplace Safety Plan

This Plan supersedes any conflicting information in previously published FEC guidance on 

COVID-19 or respiratory illnesses. It is subject to modification by the Office of the Staff 

Director or Coordination Team with Commission approval as updated guidance is issued by 

relevant authorities, including OPM, OMB, GSA, CDC, or Department of Homeland Security 

(DHS), or as conditions require.

Date Description of Modifications

August 1, 2024 The FEC’s Workplace Safety Plan was modified to address lowering risk 

from a range of common respiratory viral illnesses, pursuant to CDC 

guidance and OMB instruction. This Plan supersedes former versions of 

the COVID-19 Workplace Safety Plans. The following COVID-19 

programs from prior versions of the Plan are no longer in effect: federal 

employee vaccination requirements; onsite contractor vaccination 

requirements; COVID-19 diagnostic and screening testing programs;

COVID-19 contact notifications and contact tracing; administrative leave 

for COVID-19 vaccination recovery or accompanying a family member to 

receive a COVID-19 vaccine; COVID-19-based travel restrictions; 

quarantine and isolation; workspace occupancy and physical distancing 

restrictions; visitor restrictions; and restrictions on meetings, events, and 

conferences. Please note that these programs may be reinstituted if and as 

needed pursuant to guidance from federal entities (e.g., CDC, OMB, OPM, 

GSA).