Vol. 1 | May 2021

Message from Secretary Walsh

I am committed to supporting you, your families,

the Department’s mission in response to COVID-19.

As we embark on Public Service Recognition Week,

thank each of you for your commitment to the

Department’s mission and the American workforce.

More, now than ever, we have the unique challenge

of taking care of ourselves, our families and our

communities while also supporting Ameri

recovery from the COVID 19 pandemic. Your passion, your commitment, and

your service is both appreciated and valued. On behalf of the DOL leadership

team, I thank you for what you do in service to our country.

Secretary Marty Walsh

The Secretary addressed a variety of questions from employees about t

COVID-19 pandemic in his Town Hall meeting on March 25, 2021. If y

missed it, you can view or listen to the recording of the event by visiting: D

Town Hall with Secretary Walsh.

In Case You Missed It

Here is a quick recap of the latest COVID-19 information a

guidance sent to all DOL employees:

Reminder: DOL COVID-19 Mask Policy

FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Assistance

Revised COVID-19 Exposure Notification P

DOL’s Efforts for Vaccine Access for Employe

Extension of Expanded Workplace Flexibilities at D
Current Status of the American Rescue Plan Emergency Paid Leave

Policy Modification: Expansion of the DOL COVID-19 Workplace Sa

Plan to Include Use of Adminsitrative Leave for COVID-19 Vaccina

Additional information, including Employee Messages, are posted on the

COVID-19 LaborNet page. If you have questions, please visit the FAQ page, 

contact us at: COVID19Questions@dol.go

Employee Spotlight

Western WHD Region District Director of

Enforcement, Priscilla Garcia Ocampo, and Los

Angeles Assistant District Director, Francisco Ocampo,

along with their children Diego and Yezenia, have

continued serving the homeless community 

Ventura County, California during the pandemic. They

have been serving homeless adults and children

through the Catholic Charities Food Pantry by pu

together food boxes and distributing them to tho

without means of transportation. The food 

collected from various local grocery stores and the

Ocampos join with senior volunteers from their community to assemble the

food boxes that are distributed to the local community. The Ocampo Family

believes no one should have to go without food or water in these hard time

Do you know of a DOL colleague making a difference during COVID 19? Sha

the story with us: DOLCOVID-19Newslette

Mindful Minute

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major effect on our live

Many of us are facing challenges that can be stressful, and

overwhelming. Public health actions, such as soci

distancing, are necessary to reduce the spread of COVID-19,

but they can make us feel isolated and lonely and can

increase stress and anxiety. Learning to cope with stress in a healthy way will

make you, the people you care about, and those around you become more

resilient. Read more about coping with COVID-19 stress and mental health

from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. DOL employees are al
encouraged to visit the COVID-19 Benefits & Wellness LaborNet page f

information about available resources, including the Employee Assistan

Program.

Teleworking Tips for Your Home Off

Maintaining work-life balance during the maximum telework

posture can be challenging. The key to a healthy work life

balance as a teleworker is being able to establish boundaries

for both your work and personal obligations. For exampl

Develop a Routine by establish rituals that help you define

beginning and the end of your workday; and

Take Care of Yourself by eating healthy and taking time to 

between meetings or take a walk during your lunch brea

For more helpful tips, visit the Mayo Clinic’s “Teleworking during t

Coronavirus.”

Supervisor's Corner

The following guidance and tools are available to support

DOL managers and supervisors:

Removal of Equipment from DOL Offi

Hand Sanitizer Fact She

Provision of Masks for DOL Agencies and Visitors

Results-Oriented Management of Telework Employees – A great federal

resource from Telework.gov for managing in this unique maximum

telework environment

If you have suggestions for other content to be added to t

Manager/Supervisor Corner on the DOL COVID-19 LaborNet page or this

newsletter, tell u

Engage with Us!
May: Tell us what COVID-19 topics interest you for future DOL-wide

open forums (i.e., facilitated discussions with live Q&As on topics of

interest): Take the Survey!

June: DOL COVID-19 Town Hall – Stay tuned for more informatio

Asked & Answered

You asked, and we answered!

What should I do if I think I may have been exposed to the

virus?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Preventi

(CDC), anyone who has been within 6 feet of an infected

person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour perio

also known as “close contact,” should consult with their healthcare provider

as soon as possible, not come into a DOL workplace, and immediately inform

their supervisor so that appropriate work measures can be taken under the

DOL COVID-19 Workplace Safety Plan and exposure notification proce

Is the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) available during the COVID-19

emergency?

Yes! Employees are encouraged to reach out to EAP and its services for

assistance as a result of this public health crisis. In instances where in-person

consultations may be limited, phone consultations will be provi

For more FAQs, visit the DOL COVID-19 FAQ LaborNet page!

Did You Know...

That the DOL Worklife4You program offers a variety of free webinars on topi

of interest to our community? Here’s a list of upcoming webinars, if

interested:

Thursday, May 6, 2021 (1-2pm ET) – Resiliency Today: Managing Strong

Participants will explore what mindful meditation is and isn’t, id

the benefits, discuss data that supports mindful meditation, and hav

opportunity to experience it. Register for Resiliency Today: Managing

Strong Webinar
Tuesday, May 18, 2021 (12:00pm-1:00pm ET) – Resiliency: Bounce Back

Stronger: No matter what life throws at us, we can always learn tips

techniques to use daily to become more resilient. You will leave feeling

empowered with the knowledge of what steps to take to become more

resilient. Register Resiliency: Bounce Back Stronger Webinar

For more information, and to see other free Worklife4You webinars availab

to DOL employees, visit the 2021 Worklife Webinar Calendar, or the Office

Human Resources (OHR) Employee Assistance Program LaborNet page.

Interested in Learning More?

We have a number of helpful resources available for you on the DOL COVID19 LaborNet page! Information is updated daily — visit some of the mo

popular links below:

COVID-19 Guidance and Resources Main Page

Workplace Flexibiliti

Telework

Benefits & Wellne

Questions? Please email us at