Federal Frontline Workers’ Leave Flexibility is Vital to Government Operations

Last month we made a point to touch on some of the uplifting stories that have emerged as federal managers work to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. This month, we want to take a look at some of the efforts we are working on to protect managers and all federal employees.

FMA strongly supports and endorses the Federal Frontline Worker Leave Protection Act (H.R. 6733), introduced by Representative Jennifer Wexton (D-VA). This legislation is aimed at protecting annual leave benefits for frontline and essential workers, who cannot take time off due to the pandemic.

As Wexton explained in a press release, “most federal employees are allowed to carry over no more than 240 hours (30 days) of leave each year and any additional leave accrued is lost at the end of the benefit year; however, there are limited instances that will enable leave to carry over in the event that there is an urgent need for the employee’s work.” H.R. 6733 would modify current law to add work responding to COVID-19 as an allowable exception and permit feds to roll workers to carry over hours to the following year.

It is worth noting the Department of Defense issued guidance for active-duty service members on April 16, 2020, allowing them to accrue more leave than normal and keep it through 2023. In that guidance, Matthew Donovan, the Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, wrote, “Leave is vital to the continued health and welfare of our service members and civilian workforce and is key to the Secretary of Defense’s first priority in responding to COVID-19 – protecting our service members, DOD civilians, and their families.”

Service members are still encouraged to use leave in the year in which it is earned, but this rational guidance provides them with assurance that their leave will be preserved in this extraordinary time. FMA supports the policy at DOD and believes the federal workforce deserves a similar assurance. We are therefore proud to support Rep. Wexton’s common-sense legislation. H.R. 6733 was referred to the House Oversight and Reform Committee and currently has 14 cosponsors.

FMA also supports the effort to provide retroactive hazard pay for managers and other feds working on the frontlines of the pandemic, in addition to allowing participants in the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) to make changes to their insurance during this time. We urge Congress to consider these proposals as they work on further COVID-19 relief packages. 

On another front, FMA is working alongside other organizations to protect section 501(c)(6) non-profit associations as Congress considers revisions to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). FMA is gratified the House expanded PPP eligibility in the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act, which would provide critically-needed support to associations such as ours. In late May, FMA National President Craig Carter wrote every Member of Congress, asking them to not leave associations behind in any modifications to the PPP going forward.

Without access to the PPP, many nonprofit associations could be forced to reduce staff or even cease operations. This is a result of insurmountable revenue loss from event cancellations and amid membership declines. In our case, COVID-19 forced FMA to cancel our 82nd annual National Convention and Management Training Seminar, which was scheduled in late-March through early-April. This is FMA’s premiere event each year.

Last week, the House overwhelmingly passed the Paycheck Protection Flexibility Act (H.R. 7010), which would make PPP loans more accessible. FMA supports this greater accessibility; however, the bill does not expand eligibility to 501(c) associations. FMA remains insistent that 501(c)(6) organizations be included in a Senate bill or any larger relief package in the future. 

The views reflected in this column are those of FMA and do not necessarily represent the views of FEDmanager. To learn more about the Federal Managers Association (FMA), visit their website: FedManagers.org.