Vol. 2 | June 2021

Message from Julia Tritz

After more than a year into the COVID 19 pandemi

there are positive signs that we are making progre

and cause for hope on the horizon. Approximately

174.7 million Americans have received one or both

doses of the vaccine to date. While this informati

is promising, the volatility of this pandemic remin

us how important it is for us to play our part to

ensure our own safety and the safety of others. If

you are able but haven't already done so, we

encourage you to get vaccinated, and to follow the

masking, physical distancing, and other public health

guidance established by the Centers for Disease

Control and Preventio

As the Federal Government and the Department chart the path forward, we

are grateful to those that have already engaged with us through the "Future

of Work" listening sessions and look forward to hearing your feedback

through other employee engagement mechanisms we are planning this

summer. We do not have a planned date for increasing our on site work

presence at this time. We are carefully considering the available guidan

with worker safety and health as the paramount concern. We look forward to

sharing more information about engagement opportunities in the co

weeks. As always, please visit the COVID 19 LaborNet page and share any

questions you may have with our team at

- Julia Tritz, Director, Business Operations Cent

In Case You Missed It
Here is a quick recap of the latest COVID-19 information a

guidance sent to all DOL employees:

Updated Physical Distancing Guidance

Vaccination Information and Resou

Federal Flexible Spending Account Program (FSAFEDS):

Special Enrollment Period (June 1 – June 30)

American Rescue Plan Act – Emergency Paid Leavey

Reminder: Official Approval is Required to Take DOL-Issued Devi

Outside the US

Updated Frances Perkins Building Mask Guidelines

Updated Masking Guidance

Be Mindful of Ransomeware Attac

COVID-19 Vaccination Card Best Pract

Additional information, including Employee Messages, are posted on

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

page, or contact us at: 

COVID-19 Healthcare Emergency

Temporary Standard

The Occupational Safety and Heal

Administration (OSHA) has issued 

emergency temporary standard (ETS) to

protect healthcare workers from

contracting coronavirus. The standa

focuses on healthcare workers most

likely to have contact with someone infected with the virus. OSHA announced

the new standard alongside new general-industry guidance, both of which are

aligned with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance. OSHA

guidance will help employers and workers in other industries protect

unvaccinated workers, especially in industries with prolonged close-contacts,

like meat processing, manufacturing, seafood, and grocery and high-volume

retail. Check out the COVID-19 Healthcare Emergency Temporary Standard

and watch this newsletter for future updates on OSHA's ETS-related activ

Employee Spotlight
Rachel Culley, a Trial Attorney with the Bost

Regional Office of the Solicitor, was recen

recognized by the City of Cambridge, Massachussets

for making a difference in her community. Sin

January, Rachel has volunteered her time wi

Vaccine Hunters/Angels Massachusetts to he

individuals navigate the vaccine scheduling process.

Though she primarily helped elderly, disabled, or

isolated individuals secure appointments at local

pharmacies and clinics, Rachel also worked with anyone who needed more

information or support in the booking proces

Often working into the early morning to book appointments, Rachel h

helped more than 500 local residents get vaccinated. Inspired by her friends

in healthcare, Rachel used the skills that she has to help her neighbor and

support her community. Prior to serving at DOL, Rachel worked at the

Massachusetts Appeal Court, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District 

New York, and the Massachusetts Attorney General's 

Do you know of a DOL colleague making a difference during COVID-1

Share the story with us: DOLCOVID-19Newslette

Did You Know?

That the DOL Worklife4You program offers a variety of fr

webinars on topics of interest to our community? Here's a list

of upcoming webinars, if interested:

Thursday, June 17, 2021 (1-2pm ET) – Succeed at Work:

Best Practices for Working Remotely: This webinar outlines strategi

for communication, productivity, and time management all with

context of working from your home environment. Participants wi

explore how to work around children, how to manage distractions, a

how to cope with the unique emotional pressures of working away fr

the office. Please register for this webinar in advan

Wednesday, June 23, 2021 (1 2pm ET) For Supervisors: Focused and

Flexible – Managing Amid Uncertainty: This webinar examines how

change impacts the individual and the organization and outlines yo

role in strengthening team commitment and maintaining productivit

We'll also review the importance of practicing self care to help you st

focused and flexible during periods of instability. Please register for th

webinar in advance.
For more information, and to see other free Worklife4You webina

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

the Office of Human Resources (OHR) Employee Assistance Prog

LaborNet page.

Vaccines: What You Need to Know

The Biden Administration has launched

national public education campaign

Can Do This, to help Americans make

informed decisions about COVID-19

vaccines to protect themselves and their

communities. The We Can Do Th

website contains ample resources to

help you learn more about vaccinati

effort

We encourage you to keep the following in mind when developing your plans

for vaccinatio

Getting vaccinated gets us back to normal. Getting vaccinated is th

way to defeat this virus and get back to safely gathering with family and

friends.

The vaccine is free and available to everyone. Vaccines are available at

no cost to everyone age 12 and older living in the United States,

regardless of immigration or insurance statu

Getting vaccinated is a personal decision. Talk to your doct

pharmacist, or health care provider. Estimates show that 90% of docto

have gotten a shot themselve

The majority of American adults have been vaccinated. They are now

protected from this deadly virus and are on the path back to normal.

Interested in joining the We Can Do This campaign? Learn more about joining

the COVID-19 Community Corps. Additional information can also be foun

the LaborNet COVID-19 webpage: COVID-19 Vaccine Informatio

Future of Work Listening Sessions
Last Wednesday, June 9th, OASAM facilitated over 20

listening sessions with employees at all levels and years of

departmental service to gather feedback and ideas on the

"Future of Work" at DOL. These discussions were prompted

by the Administration's "Future of Work" initiativ

recognizes: the vital work federal employees were able to

accomplish in a maximum telework posture; the impact the pandemic had on

assumptions about the way we work and what can be accomplished v

telework; and, the opportunity to use lessons learned to change how we

operate going forward. The Department is developing its "Future of Work"

draft approach, which will include high-level strategies around workpla

flexibilities, space management, information tools and capabilities a

This draft approach will be informed by the DOL-wide telework survey th

was implemented in December 2020, union leadership meeting

recommendations from space planning workgroups, and the listeni

sessions conducted throughout this month. Over 850 DOL employees

registered to attend a listening session last wee

For those who registered, but were not randomly selected to attend a sessi

last week, please stay tuned for information about additional liste

sessions that will be added this month. If you have any questions 

comments, please feel free to contact us at: Contact.OASAM@dol.gov.

Flexible Spending Account Special

Enrollment Period

Did you know that there is a 2021 Special Enrollment

Period (SEP) available from June 1 through June 30,

2021 to allow eligible employees a one-ti

opportunity to enroll or increase/decrease federal

spending account (FSA) elections for the 2021 plan year without a qualifyi

life event (QLE)?

In response to recent legislation under the Consolidated Appropriations

and the American Rescue Plan Act with Internal Revenue Service guidance,

the Federal Flexible Spending Account Program (known as FSAFEDS) allows

federal employees to enroll, increase, or decrease their current electio

during the 2021 SEP between June 1 and June 30, 2021, in the Health Care

FSA or Limited Expense FSA and/or Dependent Care FSA. This SEP allows

those who did not enroll or re-enroll during "Open Season" the opportunity

to enroll for 2021 and to gain access to available 2020 caryover funds.
Visit LaborNet for more information about this important opportunit

American Rescue Plan Act - Emergency

Paid Leave

Emergency Paid Leave (EPL) was enacted

in the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act

signed into law on March 11, 2021. EPL

provides a source of paid leave for

federal employees who are unable to

work (including telework) due to specif

qualifying reasons related to COVID-19,

especially for those in limited leave

circumstances. EPL is effective thr

September 30, 2021, and may be claimed retroactively to March 11, 202

beginning in pay period 11.

The Office of Human Resources will be hosting Emergency Paid 

Information Sessions to ensure interested DOL employees have 

understanding of how this type of leave works. Managers and supervisors are

also encouraged to attend one of the sessions scheduled for managers a

supervisors.

Please note: The ARP created a fund of $570 million to be shared by federal

agencies to cover EPL. Because there is a limit on the amount of money in the

federal fund, and because DOL will draw on this fund along with other federal

agencies, there is the possibility that the fund will be exhausted before

September 30, 2021. If that were to occur, additional emergency paid lea

would not be available to DOL employees and previously approved

emergency paid leave (for which DOL has not yet received reimbursement)

would have to be canceled. DOL employees who used emergency paid leave

in connection with the denied reimbursement request would have to ent

corrected timesheets to change previously used emergency paid leave 

another type of paid or unpaid leave (i.e., annual leave, sick leave,

compensatory time, credit hours, time-off award hours, or leave witho

(LWOP)). Visit the LaborNet FAQs on Emergency Paid Leave for more

informatio

For more details about EPL, including instructions for requesting the us

EPL and other important considerations, please visit LaborNet. If you ha

questions regarding EPL, please send an email t
Asked & Answered

You asked, and we answered!

Q: Am I required to wear a mask in DOL offic

A: In accordance with the Centers of Disease Control and

Prevention (CDC) Interim Public Health Recommendations

Fully Vaccinated People and guidance from OMB, fully vaccinated Federal

employees, fully vaccinated onsite contractors, and fully vaccinated visitors to

DOL workspaces are no longer required to wear masks or physically distance.

Specifically, this means that if you are fully vaccinated (at least two wee

past your final dose), you are no longer required to wear a mask or physical

distance in DOL workspaces.

If you are not fully vaccinated (at least two weeks past your final dose), y

must wear a mask and continue physically distancing in DOL workspac

consistent with the requirements set forth in DOL's COVID-19 Workplace

Safety Plan. The mask (also called a face covering) must cover the nose and

mouth, in accordance with current CDC and OSHA guidance.

CDC recommends the following: Medical procedure masks, masks with inner

filter pockets or made of two or more layers of breathable fabric (such 

cotton) that is tightly woven (i.e., fabrics that do not let light pass thr

when held up to a light source). Masks must fit properly (snugly around t

nose and chin with no large gaps around the sides of the face). DOL does not

permit novelty/non-protective masks, including neck gaiters, scarves, a

bandanas, masks with ventilation valves, or face shields as a substitu

masks.

Appropriate masks must be worn consistently and correctly. Not fully

vaccinated people must wear masks and continue physically distancing in a

common areas or shared workspaces (including open floorplan office s

cubicle embankments, and conference rooms). DOL agencies, in coordinati

with the DOL COVID-19 Coordination Team, must plan for how to gra

exceptions consistent with CDC guidelines, such as when a not ful

vaccinated individual is alone in a room or office with floor to ceiling wall

a closed door, completely alone in a workspace, or for a limited time wh

eating or drinking and maintaining at least 6 feet of distance in accordan

with CDC guidelines.
Q: If everyone in our office is vaccinated, do we still have to follo

Department's COVID-19 guidelines (e.g., the most recent CDC guidelines

that vaccinated individuals no longer need to wear a mask or physically

distance)?

A: DOL is developing a plan for the phased reentry of DOL workspaces that is

aligned with the guidance from the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force and

the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The DOL COVID-

Workplace Safety Plan, including the maximum telework posture and

workplace occupancy limits, remains in place. We will continue to update o

Plan based on federal government and public health guidance. Informati

about the Department's maximum telework posture can be found in the DOL

COVID-19 Workplace Safety Plan. DOL employees who are fully vaccinated (at

least two weeks past your final dose) are no longer required to wear a ma

or physically distance within DOL workspaces.

For more FAQs, visit the DOL COVID-19 FAQ 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