Extension of Expanded Workplace Flexibilities

and Time Charging Guidance for Vaccinations

This message is intended for all DOL Federal employees.

Dear Colleagues:

Last week, Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management Rachana Desai Martin announced a delay in the

Department’s planned reentry timeframes. Phase 1 of reentry will now begin no earlier than January 3, 2022.

Extension of Expanded Workplace Flexibilities:

To address employee and management concerns regarding the expiration of the Resumption of On-Premises Work

MOU, which includes the expanded work schedule flexibilities, the parties successfully modified the Resumption of OnPremises Work MOU to reflect the guidance and protocols in DOL’s Internal Reentry and Post-Reentry Future of Work

Plan and Workplace Safety Plan and extended the expanded work schedule flexibilities until the first business day of

Phase 1.

Subject to the terms and procedures outlined in the MOU, employees may continue to use these expanded workplace

flexibilities with supervisory approval:

1. Expanded work band from 5:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

2. Removal of core hours Tuesday – Thursday in addition to Mondays and Fridays.

3. Mid-day flex break any day of the week instead of only on Mondays and Fridays, and this flexibility is now also

available for NCFLL bargaining unit employees.

More information on expanded workplace flexibilities can be found on LaborNet. Questions regarding the flexibilities may

be sent to

Updated Guidance on Leave for COVID-19 Vaccinations:

Retroactive to September 9, 2021, employees must use duty time rather than administrative leave to receive required

doses of the COVID-19 vaccine administered during their basic tour of duty. Required doses are those necessary to

comply with the current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention definition of fully vaccinated (two weeks after two

doses of the Pfizer/COMIRNATY vaccine, two doses of the Moderna vaccine, two doses of the AstraZeneca/Oxford

vaccine, or one dose of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine). Under this authority, an employee may use up to 4 hours of

duty time per dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, not to exceed a maximum of 8 hours total for multiple doses, including

travel to and from vaccination appointments. If an employee spends less time getting the vaccine, only the needed

amount of duty time will be allowed. Time needed in excess of four hours may be granted, at the employee's request, as

annual leave, sick leave, or other forms of paid or non-paid leave. If, due to unforeseen circumstances, an employee is

LABORNET
unable to receive a required vaccination dose during their basic tour of duty hours, overtime policies apply including the

requirement for supervisor pre-approval. Additional guidance on using duty time for vaccination purposes can be found

on LaborNet.

As outlined in previous announcements, the Department is continuing to grant administrative leave for employees to

receive an additional dose of the COVID-19 vaccine (e.g. a booster shot), to take a family member to receive any dose of

the COVID-19 vaccine, and for employees who may experience side effects (e.g., fever, chills, headache) following

receipt of a vaccination dose. The amount of administrative leave varies, and full guidance on these policies can be

found on LaborNet under Employee Messages.

As a reminder, all federal employees must be fully vaccinated by November 22, 2021. To find a vaccine for yourself or a

family member, search vaccines.gov; text your zip code to 438829; or call 1-800-232-0233. Questions regarding this

policy may be sent to or 

Sincerely,

Sydney T. Rose | Chief Human Capital Officer

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management U.S. Department of Labor | www.dol.gov

200 Constitution Avenue, N.W. Suite C5526

Washington, D.C. 20210

Questions? View the LaborNet page or email us at 

Posted: September 29, 2021