COVID
EDUCATORS TO BE GIVEN ADMINSTRATIVE LEAVE TO RECEIVE NEW COVID BOOSTER SHOT
The Federal government’s Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has issued guidance to agencies regarding administrative leave for employees to receive their updated COVID-19 vaccine. According to an October 6th OPM memo: “Agencies must grant leave-eligible employees up to 4 hours of administrative leave to receive the updated COVID-19 vaccine (as well as primary series doses,… Read More
UPDATED GUIDANCE FOR EMPLOYEES ON FILING FECA (WORKERS COMP) CLAIMS DUE TO COVID EXPOSURE
In response to Association requests for clearer information for members exposed to COVID 19 who seek to file claims under the Federal Employees Compensation Act (FECA), DoDEA management has updated its guidance on how employees should seek assistance with the process. DoDEA is now advising employees to contact the Army Benefits Center – Civilian (ABC-C)… Read More
DODEA DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE HOPEFULLY SIGNALS POSITIVE CHANGE
By now you have hopefully seen the message from Director Brady to all DoDEA staff, in which he acknowledges the many stresses and burdens DoDEA educators continue to face due to COVID and the current work environment. We are appreciative Director Brady recognized the need for changes to be made. The possible changes he cited… Read More
FECA (Workers Comp) Option for COVID Exposure
posted: January 14, 2022 As a result of numerous requests from the Association, DoDEA has released information to administrators about the option for federal workers exposed to COVID 19 to file claims under the Federal Employees Compensation Act (FECA), which is essentially Workers Comp for feds. In most COVID situations, management’s response is for the… Read More
DoDEA Updates COVID Info Following Association Request
Association attorneys and leaders Thursday raised concerns with the vaccine exemption form issued by DoDEA earlier this week, leading to management’s release of updated guidance providing more flexibility in the timeline for employees to file medical documentation when seeking exemption from the November 22 deadline to be fully vaccinated. FEA and FEA-Stateside Region leaders and… Read More
DoDEA FAILING TO PROVIDE VACCINE EXEMPTION INFORMATION
With barely a month left until the deadline for federal employees to be vaccinated for COVID-19, DoDEA has yet to issue any instructions about the Reasonable Accommodation process for employees seeking exemptions. DoDEA has yet to provide the Association with official notice of the vaccine mandate so the parties can negotiate over the procedures, despite… Read More
DOL Bulletin Covers Injuries to Feds from COVID Vaccine Mandate
The Department of Labor recently issued FECA bulletin 22-01 with a subject line of "Coverage for Injuries Resulting from the COVID-19 Vaccination Mandate for Federal Employees." FECA, the Federal Employees' Compensation Act, covers injuries that occur in the performance of duty. The full FECA bulletin can be read here.… Read More
NOV 22 DEADLINE FOR FEDS TO BECOME FULLY VACCINATED
Following an Executive Order from the White House requiring federal employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force has issued guidance stating that feds must be fully vaccinated by November 22 of this year. Please be aware that the guidance states that the vaccine mandate applies to teleworking employees and… Read More
FEA Stands with NEA on Federal Employee Vaccination Policy
Late last month, the Biden administration issued an Executive Order on Covid-19 vaccinations for federal government employees. (Read that EO at https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/07/29/fact-sheet-president-biden-to-announce-new-actions-to-get-more-americans-vaccinated-and-slow-the-spread-of-the-delta-variant/) The order specified that all employees attest to their vaccination status, and those that are not vaccinated will be subject to certain requirements, such as frequent testing, official travel restrictions, and more. Subsequently,… Read More
COVID BILL CONTAINS PAID LEAVE FOR FEDS
Federal employees suffering from COVID-19 or caring for an individual affected by the virus may be eligible for up to an additional 600 hours of paid family medical leave, under a provision in the recently passed American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. According to FedSmith.com (read the article here), the legislation included $570 million in… Read More