Vol. 11 | April 2022

Reentry Reminders

Phase 3 reentry begins on Monday, May 2. We want to make sure

all employees - those who may already be working onsite and

those who are reporting to the office soon - feel prepared for

transition. For those of you that haven’t worked onsite in

while, here are some reminders to help prepare you for reentry:

Talk to your supervisor about your individual work

schedule, reentry date, and expectations as it relates 

your team. Update your telework agreement in TeleworkXpress as

appropriate.

Complete the required Workplace Safety Training on LaborNet in advance of

or within eight (8) hours of return to onsite work. Email your direct

supervisor or COR, as appropriate, upon completio

Complete the mandatory DOL Occupant Emergency Plan course on

LearningLink prior to returning to on-site work, or shortly thereafte

Alternatively, you could attend one of the scheduled virtual brown

sessions.

Conduct the Daily Health Screening each day before coming to work in the

office or in the field. Do not report onsite if you are sick. If

answer is “yes” to any of the screening questions, notify 

supervisor and coordinate on next steps.

Check the community level and masking requirements by location, physic

distancing requirements, testing requirements, and travel guidan

associated with your vaccination status, the level of transmission in yo

community, and local public health requirements. Keep a mask with you just

in case. Remember you are always welcome to wear a mask if you prefer.

Check the COVID-19 Community Level for your onsite location, and t

health and safety protocols associated with your vaccination status. The

protocols can vary by Community Level and/or by vaccination status, a

include masking requirements, physical distancing requirements, testi

requirements, and travel guidance. (See the chart below) Keep a mask with
you just in case. And remember you are always welcome to wear a mask if

you prefer.

Prepare for your commute by reviewing DOL’s Transit Subsidy informati

(includes both National and Regional information, does not apply to B

Note that DC metro riders need to replace old SmarTrip cards to be

compatible with WMATA’s new fare gate system if the serial number do

NOT begin with 0167.

Leverage dependent care and WorkLife resources as needed, e.g.,

WorkLife4You (Resource and Referral Program), Employee Assistance

Program, Emergency Back-up Dependent Care Program, and Child Care

Subsidy Program.

Check the expiration date on your PIV card. If it has expired, schedule 

appointment to have a new card issued and activated. To do s

1. Call the DOL USAccess Help Desk at 202-693-7200 to obtain the status

of your PIV Card. The DOL USAccess Help Desk person will be able to

provide additional guidance. O

2. Visit the GSA USAccess scheduler site to schedule an appointment to

pick-up/activate your DOL PIV badg

Work with your supervisor to determine your travel expectations. Employe

anticipated to travel should create an E2 travel system account if you don

already have one, or log in to ensure continued access if you do. If you a

expected to travel two or more times in the next year, apply for a travel car

Log into CitiManager, if you are a travel card holder, to review and upda

your credit limits as needed.

Read and familiarize yourself with DOL’s COVID-19 plans and policies.

Bring your laptop, charger, and headset to your worksite so you can

effectively participate in hybrid m

Use disinfectant wipes and other EPA-approved disinfectants available in

common office areas to wipe down workstations and other surf

When in doubt, refer to the DOL Workplace Safety Plan. We are excited to see

you again soon!

Video: Reentry Preparatio

(4 mins)

Watch this video for a quick

overview of what to be thinking

about before returning to onsite

work and the day you return to

onsite work, plus ongoing health

and safety guidance.
In Case You Missed It

Here is a quick recap of the latest COVID-19 information and guidance sent to a

DOL employees:

Future of Work MOU (PDF)

Reentry and Phase 3 Logisti

Updated DOL Guidance on Masking and Testi

DOL COVID-19 Exposure Notification Process

COVID 19 Testing Poli

DOL Workplace Safety Training (PDF)

DOL Workplace Safety Plan (PDF)

DOL Internal Reentry and Post-Reentry Plan (PDF)

COVID 19 Community Levels and Masking Requirements by DOL Locati

Coming Soon: Mental Health Awareness

Month

May is Mental Health Awareness Month.

Mental health is an important part of overall

health, and a growing number of Americans

have been experiencing mental health

symptoms.

In fact, DOL, in conjunction with t

Department of Health and Human Services

and Department of Treasury, issued the 2022

Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act report to Congress earlier this yea

“The report’s findings clearly indicate that health plans and insurance compani

are falling short of providing parity in mental health and substance-use disorder

benefits, at a time when those benefits are needed like never before,

Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh. “The pandemic is having a negative impact on t

mental health of people in the U.S. and driving a rise in substance use. As a person

in recovery, I know firsthand how important access to mental health a

substance-use disorder treatment is. Enforcement of this law is a top priority for

the Department of Labor and an objective I take personally

For this year’s Mental Health Awareness Month, the National Alliance on Ment

Illness (NAMI) is amplifying the message of “Together for Mental Health.” Together,
we can realize our shared vision of a nation where anyone affected by me

illness can get the appropriate support and quality of care to live healthy, fulfilli

lives.

Change is never easy, and as we continue our collective reentry journey, pleas

aware of the many mental health resources available to DOL staf

Federal Occupational Health (FOH) Resources – includes information a

health units and voluntary health services

Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – counseling and coaching services

available to all DOL federal employees and their household family members,

including webinars and discussion groups

WorkLife4You – a free resource and referral service designed to help DOL

employees and their dependents better manage daily responsibilities and 

events such as child care and parenting, adult care and aging, education, l

assistance, health and wellness, and more! Check out the program’s list of

April webinars.

The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is the leading source of free, exper

and confidential guidance on job accommodations and disability empl

issues. Serving customers across the United States and around the world for

more than 35 years, JAN provides free one-on-one practical guidance a

technical assistance on job accommodation solutions, Title I of the Ameri

with Disabilities Act (ADA) and related legislation. Here is more infor

on accommodations for those with various mental health conditi

Additionally, during the month of May, the Department will be hos

presentations for DOL supervisors and employees through our Employ

Assistance Program and WorkLife4You Program that deal with proactive

supporting mental health and are designed to help participants learn more a

dealing with mental health challenges. Topics include Fostering a Mentally Healthy

Workplace (for supervisors), Mental Health Awareness (for all employees), and The

Connection Between Exercise & Mental Health (for all employees). All D

supervisors and employees are welcome to participat

For more information about health and wellness resources available to D

employees, please reach out to 

DOL Purchases COVID-19 Tests

DOL recently procured Abbott BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card Home Tests f

employee use. When possible given resource and supply chain constraints, DOL will
provide these tests for required use as described in the testi

policy. Employees should work with their supervisor to ensure

they have the test(s) needed. When they are available, employees

must use tests provided by the Department unless there is a

documented need for a different test or a religious or medic

accommodation for an employee to use a specific type of test

provided by the Department. An employee’s preference for a

different test is not sufficient, and the reason for needing a different test 

documented and the accommodation approved by the appropriate part

If an exception to the use of DOL provided tests is granted, the test purchas

(whether using a purchase card or through reimbursement) must be both 1) FDA

authorized and 2) the test result comes in the form of written or electron

documentation that includes the employee’s name, date of test, and test resul

DOL does not accept COVID-19 antibody tests for any purpos

Follow this step-by-step guide to use the Abbott BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Ca

Home Tests for DOL purposes. Please reach out to 

with any questions. Don’t forget if you need a test for personal use, vis

COVID.gov.

TeleworkXpress Info & Reminders

TeleworkXpress is DOL’s new automated telework agreement

management system that will simplify the process for establishing

and maintaining telework and remote work agreements for DOL

employees and managers.

Per the DOL Reentry and Post Reentry Future of Work Plan, all DOL

employees must take the following actions by their schedul

reentry date or the start of Phase 3, whichever is earlier:

1. Employees are required to return to their official worksite and duty stati

record.

2. Employees must have an approved, up-to-date telework agreement to

participate in telework or remote work. Note: Employees who request a

are approved to establish a remote work agreement beyond the start of

Phase 3 will have their official worksite changed to the location of the r

worksite, which may change their duty station and have an impact on the

locality pay.