FEB 2 5 2020 

SECRETARY OF LABOR 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20210 

MEMORANDUM FOR THE HEADS OF ~(T-fVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES 

FROM: EUGENE SCALI~ 

SUBJECT: The PEER Initiative: Protecting Employees, Enabling Reemployment 

Each year, federal civilian employees sustain too many preventable work-related injuries and 

illnesses. There are steps we can take to prevent workplace hazards and to improve programs 

intended to help ill and injured federal employees and their families. 

On January 9, 2020, Office of Management and Budget Acting Director Russell T. Vought sent a 

memorandum to heads of executive departments and agencies announcing the creation of the 

Protecting Employees, Enabling Reemployment (PEER) Initiative. The PEER Initiative serves 

as an opportunity for heads of federal departments and agencies to recommit to a safety and 

health-conscious federal workforce-and a workforce that receives timely benefits through a 

modern and efficient workers' compensation system. 

The PEER Initiative supp01is the President's Management Agenda - Modernizing Government 

for the 21st Century, as well as the President's Initiative to Stop Opioid Abuse and Reduce Drug 

Supply and Demand. The Initiative creates seven goals for all federal agencies and the United 

States Postal Service to achieve in fiscal years 2020 through 2022. 1 These goals are as follows: 

• Goal 1 requires agencies to reduce total injury and illness case rates by one percent or 

four percent per year below the actual rate from two years prior, depending on whether 

the agency's rate is below or above the national average. 2 

• Goal 2 requires agencies to reduce lost-time injury and illness case rates by one percent 

or four percent per year below the actual rate from two years prior, depending on whether 

the agency's rate is below or above the national average. 3 

• Goal 3 requires agencies to increase the timely filing rate for workers' compensation 

claims forms CA-1 and CA-2 by three percent per year above the agency's FY 2018 

performance result or to meet established minimum filing percentages, whichever is 

higher. 4 Maximum targets will be set at 98 percent unless the agency's FY 2018 

performance was higher. 

1 The United States Postal Service (USPS) is subject to the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs' goals. It is 

also covered by the Occupational Safety and Health Act (the Act) due to a 1998 amendment to the Act. 2 If agencies maintain a total or lost-time case rate of 1.0 or less per year, no further reductions are required. 3 If agencies maintain a total or lost-time case rate of 1.0 or less per year, no further reductions are required. 4 The minimum for FY 2020 is 87 percent, increasing three percent (of the 87, for example) per year thereafter. 
• Goal 4 requires agencies to increase the timely filing rate for wage-loss claim form 

CA-7 by three percent per year above the agency's FY 2018 performance result or to 

meet established minimum filing percentages, whichever is greater. 5 Maximum targets 

will be set at 98 percent unless the agency's FY 2018 performance was higher. 

• Goal 5 requires agencies to increase the rate of return-to-work for traumatic injuries 

during the initial 45-day post-injury period, with annual targets to be established after 

measuring for the agency's initial baseline year. 

• Goal 6 requires key agencies to increase the rate ofreturn-to-work within a two-year 

period for those federal employees who sustain moderate to severe workplace injuries or 

illnesses. The agencies subject to this goal 6 are expected to improve one percent per year 

above the agency's FY 2018 performance result or to meet established minimum targets, 7 

whichever is greater. Maximum targets will be set at 98 percent unless the agency's 

FY 2018 performance was higher. 

• Goal 7 tracks agencies' use of the Department of Labor's electronic filing system, 

Employees' Compensation Operations and Management Portal (ECOMP). ECOMP 

provides consistent processing and payment of claims, which allows the Department's 

Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) to effectively address improper 

payments and facilitates opioid education for all filers. All employers must use ECOMP 

to file all notices of injury and compensation claims by September 30, 2020. 

Goals one through six are designed to reduce taxpayer burdens and assist workers. Goal seven 

will standardize and improve efficiency in the claims process, so workers receive compensation 

in a timely manner. The seventh goal will also enable direct and immediate communication with 

injured workers. This will help ensure prompt treatment as well as timely opioid and pain 

management education. 

I encourage executive departments and agencies to coordinate with the Department's 

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and OWCP as you develop plans to 

achieve these individualized performance targets. Agencies should review the enclosed table for 

information about agency-specific performance targets. Agency targets and performance 

information are available on the Division of Federal Employees' Compensation website at 

https://www.dol.gov/owcp/dfec/. 

I appreciate your assistance as we work together to achieve these shared goals. 

Enclosure 

5 The minimum for FY 2020 is 87 percent, increasing three percent (of the 87, for example) per year thereafter. 6 While all federal agencies are encouraged to improve their return-to-work percentages, the 11 agencies with the 

largest case volumes (i.e., a total of 100 or more new serious injury cases measured for the FY 2017 and FY 2018 

period) are subject to this goal. The enclosed chart denotes the agencies subject to this goal. 7 The minimum target for FY 2020 is 85 percent, increasing one percent (of the 85, for example) per year thereafter. 

2 
Executive Branch

FY18 Baseline 

Performance FY20 Targets FY21 Targets FY22 Targets

All Government

Total Case Rate1 1.93 1.85 4% below 2019 4% below 2020

Lost Time Case Rate1 1.04 1.00 1.00 or below 1.00 or below

CA-1/CA-2 Timeliness 94.70% 97.54% 98.00% 98.00%

CA-7 Timeliness 93.81% 96.62% 98.00% 98.00%

Return to Work Rate During COP Period Not Applicable Baseline Year TBD TBD

Return to Work Rate 90.06% 90.96% 91.87% 92.79%

Departments

FY18 Baseline 

Performance FY20 Targets FY21 Targets FY22 Targets

Department of Agriculture

Total Case Rate 3.77 3.62 1 or 4% below 2019 1 or 4% below 2020

Lost Time Case Rate 1.41 1.35 1 or 4% below 2019 1 or 4% below 2020

CA-1/CA-2 Timeliness 86.10% 88.68% 91.34% 94.08%

CA-7 Timeliness 93.12% 95.91% 98.00% 98.00%

Return to Work Rate During COP Period Not Applicable TBD TBD TBD

Return to Work Rate 89.10% 89.99% 90.89% 91.80%

Department of Air Force

Total Case Rate 1.12 1.11 1 or 4% below 2019 1 or 4% below 2020

Lost Time Case Rate 1.03 1.02 1 or 4% below 2019 1 or 4% below 2020

CA-1/CA-2 Timeliness 98.55% 98.55% 98.55% 98.55%

CA-7 Timeliness 97.64% 98.00% 98.00% 98.00%

Return to Work Rate During COP Period Not Applicable TBD TBD TBD

Return to Work Rate 89.50% 90.40% 91.30% 92.21%

Department of Army

Total Case Rate 1.64 1.62 1 or 4% below 2019 1 or 4% below 2020

Lost Time Case Rate 1.00 1.00 or below 1 or 4% below 2019 1 or 4% below 2020

CA-1/CA-2 Timeliness 95.40% 98.00% 98.00% 98.00%

CA-7 Timeliness 84.75% 87.29% 89.91% 92.61%

Return to Work Rate During COP Period Not Applicable TBD TBD TBD

Return to Work Rate 89.70% 90.60% 91.50% 92.42%

Department of Commerce

Total Case Rate 0.62 1.00 or below 1 or 4% below 2019 1 or 4% below 2020

Lost Time Case Rate 0.4 1.00 or below 1 or 4% below 2019 1 or 4% below 2020

CA-1/CA-2 Timeliness 99.48% 99.48% 99.48% 99.48%

CA-7 Timeliness 96.95% 98.00% 98.00% 98.00%

Return to Work Rate During COP Period Not Applicable TBD TBD TBD

Return to Work Rate Not Subject to Goal Not Subject to Goal Not Subject to Goal Not Subject to Goal

Department of Defense (excluding 

components)

Total Case Rate 1.10 1.09 1 or 4% below 2019 1 or 4% below 2020

Lost Time Case Rate 0.70 1.00 or below 1 or 4% below 2019 1 or 4% below 2020

CA-1/CA-2 Timeliness 95.49% 98.00% 98.00% 98.00%

CA-7 Timeliness 90.01% 92.71% 95.49% 98.00%

Return to Work Rate During COP Period Not Applicable TBD TBD TBD

Return to Work Rate 87.50% 88.38% 89.26% 90.15%

1Requires agencies to reduce case rates by 1% or 4% per year below the actual rate from two years prior, depending on whether the agency’s rate is below or above the 

national average. If agencies maintain a total or lost time case rate of one or less per year, no further reductions are required.

PEER Targets (Goals 1-6) 

FY 2020 through FY 2022
Department of Education

Total Case Rate 0.22 1.00 or below 1 or 4% below 2019 1 or 4% below 2020

Lost Time Case Rate 0.15 1.00 or below 1 or 4% below 2019 1 or 4% below 2020

CA-1/CA-2 Timeliness 80.00% 87.00% 89.61% 92.30%

CA-7 Timeliness 0.00% 87.00% 89.61% 92.30%

Return to Work Rate During COP Period Not Applicable TBD TBD TBD

Return to Work Rate Not Subject to Goal Not Subject to Goal Not Subject to Goal Not Subject to Goal

Department of Energy

Total Case Rate 1.14 1.13 1 or 4% below 2019 1 or 4% below 2020

Lost Time Case Rate 0.39 1.00 or below 1 or 4% below 2019 1 or 4% below 2020

CA-1/CA-2 Timeliness 86.52% 89.12% 91.79% 94.54%

CA-7 Timeliness 85.42% 87.98% 90.62% 93.34%

Return to Work Rate During COP Period Not Applicable TBD TBD TBD

Return to Work Rate Not Subject to Goal Not Subject to Goal Not Subject to Goal Not Subject to Goal

Department of Health and Human Services

Total Case Rate 0.65 1.00 or below 1 or 4% below 2019 1 or 4% below 2020

Lost Time Case Rate 0.46 1.00 or below 1 or 4% below 2019 1 or 4% below 2020

CA-1/CA-2 Timeliness 81.49% 87.00% 89.61% 92.30%

CA-7 Timeliness 79.41% 87.00% 89.61% 92.30%

Return to Work Rate During COP Period Not Applicable TBD TBD TBD

Return to Work Rate Not Subject to Goal Not Subject to Goal Not Subject to Goal Not Subject to Goal

Department of Homeland Security

Total Case Rate 4.72 4.53 1 or 4% below 2019 1 or 4% below 2020

Lost Time Case Rate 2.30 2.21 1 or 4% below 2019 1 or 4% below 2020

CA-1/CA-2 Timeliness 87.92% 90.56% 93.27% 96.07%

CA-7 Timeliness 77.56% 87.00% 89.61% 92.30%

Return to Work Rate During COP Period Not Applicable TBD TBD TBD

Return to Work Rate 88.49% 89.37% 90.27% 91.17%

Department of Housing and Urban 

Development

Total Case Rate 0.69 1.00 or below 1 or 4% below 2019 1 or 4% below 2020

Lost Time Case Rate 0.43 1.00 or below 1 or 4% below 2019 1 or 4% below 2020

CA-1/CA-2 Timeliness 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

CA-7 Timeliness 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

Return to Work Rate During COP Period Not Applicable TBD TBD TBD

Return to Work Rate Not Subject to Goal Not Subject to Goal Not Subject to Goal Not Subject to Goal

Department of Interior

Total Case Rate 4.24 4.07 1 or 4% below 2019 1 or 4% below 2020

Lost Time Case Rate 1.47 1.41 1 or 4% below 2019 1 or 4% below 2020

CA-1/CA-2 Timeliness 95.56% 98.00% 98.00% 98.00%

CA-7 Timeliness 72.00% 87.00% 89.61% 92.30%

Return to Work Rate During COP Period Not Applicable TBD TBD TBD

Return to Work Rate 84.12% 85.81% 86.67% 87.54%

PEER Targets (Goals 1-6) 

FY 2020 through FY 2022

2
Department of Justice

Total Case Rate 3.10 2.98 1 or 4% below 2019 1 or 4% below 2020

Lost Time Case Rate 2.01 1.93 1 or 4% below 2019 1 or 4% below 2020

CA-1/CA-2 Timeliness 96.11% 98.00% 98.00% 98.00%

CA-7 Timeliness 90.02% 92.72% 95.50% 98.00%

Return to Work Rate During COP Period Not Applicable TBD TBD TBD

Return to Work Rate 87.28% 88.15% 89.03% 89.92%

Department of Labor

Total Case Rate 1.39 1.38 1 or 4% below 2019 1 or 4% below 2020

Lost Time Case Rate 0.52 1.00 or below 1 or 4% below 2019 1 or 4% below 2020

CA-1/CA-2 Timeliness 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

CA-7 Timeliness 99.44% 99.44% 99.44% 99.44%

Return to Work Rate During COP Period Not Applicable TBD TBD TBD

Return to Work Rate Not Subject to Goal Not Subject to Goal Not Subject to Goal Not Subject to Goal

Department of Navy

Total Case Rate 1.51 1.49 1 or 4% below 2019 1 or 4% below 2020

Lost Time Case Rate 0.97 1.00 or below 1 or 4% below 2019 1 or 4% below 2020

CA-1/CA-2 Timeliness 98.68% 98.68% 98.68% 98.68%

CA-7 Timeliness 95.24% 98.00% 98.00% 98.00%

Return to Work Rate During COP Period Not Applicable TBD TBD TBD

Return to Work Rate 92.56% 93.49% 94.42% 95.36%

Department of State

Total Case Rate 0.22 1.00 or below 1 or 4% below 2019 1 or 4% below 2020

Lost Time Case Rate 0.16 1.00 or below 1 or 4% below 2019 1 or 4% below 2020

CA-1/CA-2 Timeliness 65.33% 87.00% 89.61% 92.30%

CA-7 Timeliness 53.18% 87.00% 89.61% 92.30%

Return to Work Rate During COP Period Not Applicable TBD TBD TBD

Return to Work Rate Not Subject to Goal Not Subject to Goal Not Subject to Goal Not Subject to Goal

Department of Transportation

Total Case Rate 1.00 1.00 or below 1 or 4% below 2019 1 or 4% below 2020

Lost Time Case Rate 0.52 1.00 or below 1 or 4% below 2019 1 or 4% below 2020

CA-1/CA-2 Timeliness 99.38% 99.38% 99.38% 99.38%

CA-7 Timeliness 82.70% 87.00% 89.61% 92.30%

Return to Work Rate During COP Period Not Applicable TBD TBD TBD

Return to Work Rate Not Subject to Goal Not Subject to Goal Not Subject to Goal Not Subject to Goal

Department of Treasury

Total Case Rate 0.62 1.00 or below 1 or 4% below 2019 1 or 4% below 2020

Lost Time Case Rate 0.39 1.00 or below 1 or 4% below 2019 1 or 4% below 2020

CA-1/CA-2 Timeliness 92.29% 95.06% 97.91% 98.00%

CA-7 Timeliness 74.12% 87.00% 89.61% 92.30%

Return to Work Rate During COP Period Not Applicable TBD TBD TBD

Return to Work Rate 87.74% 88.62% 89.50% 90.40%

Department of Veterans Affairs

Total Case Rate 2.17 2.08 1 or 4% below 2019 1 or 4% below 2020

Lost Time Case Rate 1.01 1.00 1 or 4% below 2019 1 or 4% below 2020

CA-1/CA-2 Timeliness 91.20% 93.94% 96.75% 98.00%

CA-7 Timeliness 95.41% 98.00% 98.00% 98.00%

Return to Work Rate During COP Period Not Applicable TBD TBD TBD

Return to Work Rate 89.93% 90.83% 91.74% 92.65%

PEER Targets (Goals 1-6) 

FY 2020 through FY 2022

3
Independent Agencies

FY 18 Baseline 

Performance FY20 Targets FY21 Targets FY22 Targets

United States Postal Service

Total Case Rate Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable

Lost Time Case Rate Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable

CA-1/CA-2 Timeliness 97.26% 98.00% 98.00% 98.00%

CA-7 Timeliness 96.03% 98.00% 98.00% 98.00%

Return to Work Rate During COP Period Not Applicable TBD TBD TBD

Return to Work Rate 90.55% 91.46% 92.37% 93.29%

Environmental Protection Agency

Total Case Rate 0.49 1.00 or below 1 or 4% below 2019 1 or 4% below 2020

Lost Time Case Rate 0.26 1.00 or below 1 or 4% below 2019 1 or 4% below 2020

CA-1/CA-2 Timeliness 80.49% 87.00% 89.61% 92.30%

CA-7 Timeliness 86.67% 89.27% 91.95% 94.71%

Return to Work Rate During COP Period Not Applicable TBD TBD TBD

Return to Work Rate Not Subject to Goal Not Subject to Goal Not Subject to Goal Not Subject to Goal

General Services Administration

Total Case Rate 0.28 1.00 or below 1 or 4% below 2019 1 or 4% below 2020

Lost Time Case Rate 0.19 1.00 or below 1 or 4% below 2019 1 or 4% below 2020

CA-1/CA-2 Timeliness 70.00% 87.00% 89.61% 92.30%

CA-7 Timeliness 54.17% 87.00% 89.61% 92.30%

Return to Work Rate During COP Period Not Applicable TBD TBD TBD

Return to Work Rate Not Subject to Goal Not Subject to Goal Not Subject to Goal Not Subject to Goal

National Aeronautics and Space 

Administration

Total Case Rate 0.24 1.00 or below 1 or 4% below 2019 1 or 4% below 2020

Lost Time Case Rate 0.09 1.00 or below 1 or 4% below 2019 1 or 4% below 2020

CA-1/CA-2 Timeliness 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

CA-7 Timeliness No Data Available 87.00% 87.00% 87.00%

Return to Work Rate During COP Period Not Applicable TBD TBD TBD

Return to Work Rate Not Subject to Goal Not Subject to Goal Not Subject to Goal Not Subject to Goal

Social Security Administration

Total Case Rate 0.60 1.00 or below 1 or 4% below 2019 1 or 4% below 2020

Lost Time Case Rate 0.52 1.00 or below 1 or 4% below 2019 1 or 4% below 2020

CA-1/CA-2 Timeliness 86.42% 89.01% 91.68% 94.43%

CA-7 Timeliness 68.64% 87.00% 89.61% 92.30%

Return to Work Rate During COP Period Not Applicable TBD TBD TBD

Return to Work Rate Not Subject to Goal Not Subject to Goal Not Subject to Goal Not Subject to Goal

Tennessee Valley Authority

Total Case Rate 0.94 1.00 or below 1 or 4% below 2019 1 or 4% below 2020

Lost Time Case Rate 0.21 1.00 or below 1 or 4% below 2019 1 or 4% below 2020

CA-1/CA-2 Timeliness 92.37% 95.14% 98.00% 98.00%

CA-7 Timeliness 90.91% 93.64% 96.45% 98.00%

Return to Work Rate During COP Period Not Applicable TBD TBD TBD

Return to Work Rate Not Subject to Goal Not Subject to Goal Not Subject to Goal Not Subject to Goal

PEER Targets (Goals 1-6) 

FY 2020 through FY 2022

4