Agencies Release New COVID-19 Safety Protocols
Under President Joe Biden’s January 20, 2021 executive order, federal agencies had to create new guidelines and safety protocols to follow during the COVID-19 pandemic. In accordance with the order, several agencies have already introduced formal plans that outline office safety measures and policies they plan to implement.
The Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), and Department of Agriculture (USDA) have published their new COVID-19 safety plans, while other agencies like NASA have updated their existing guidelines. COVID-19 safety precautions have been a priority for the Biden administration since day one, and the administration wants federal agencies to have a standardized response to the pandemic.
The new agency plans follow both requirements outlined in President Biden’s executive order and also Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance. The new rules also override COVID-19 guidance documents that were issued by the Trump administration. For instance, masks are now required in all OPM offices and federal employees will be given a 30-day notice before returning to work rather than a 7-day notice.
In the previous administration, there was concern that COVID-19 safety guidance was too surface level and left too much room for agencies to make their own workplace decisions regarding safety.
Several Democratic Senators, in an April 2020 letter, expressed their dissatisfaction with the COVID-19 policies of the time, stating, “As the number of coronavirus cases and the number of deaths—including deaths of federal employees—continue to rise, it is imperative that all federal employees are appropriately protected, and have assurance that their safety will take precedence and be the highest priority in decisions about when and how they return to their job sites.”
Based on President Biden’s executive order, each agency plan now must mandate social distancing, mask use, occupancy limitations, and regular cleaning protocols. The plans are also required to establish a COVID-19 coordinating team that will be responsible for overseeing the implementation of the agency-wide plan and mitigating COVID-19 transmission risk.
The OPM plan encourages maximum telework where possible. It reads, “Telework is generally a voluntary work option. However, per OMB guidance, federal employees should make every effort to work remotely unless their work requires their physical presence. This is a determination that the supervisor must make.”
The White House COVID-19 response team has also launched the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force, which explains how federal agencies can implement the Executive Order on Protecting the Federal Workforce and Requiring Mask-Wearing.
