A group of Senators on Friday, noting that the federal government is the largest employer in the nation, called on the Office of Personnel Management to take steps to ensure federal employees and contractors will not be penalized for taking health precautions during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Democratic Senators wrote to OPM Director Dale Cabaniss with concerns that the personnel agency’s guidance does not prioritize the health and safety of the approximately 2 million civil servants and 4.1 federal contractors. While acknowledging that the trajectory of the novel coronavirus continues to evolve, the lawmakers said OPM should do more to support federal workers, many of whom face exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19 in the course of their jobs.
“We worry that OPM’s guidance to date does not demonstrate to our nation’s hardworking public servants that the federal government is prioritizing their health, well-being, and economic security,” they wrote. “We urge you to swiftly develop and circulate guidance that does more to reassure them that they will not be penalized for heeding public health guidance, they will continue to receive pay while doing so, and they will not be expected to work while sick.”
The letter was signed by Sens. Mark Warner, D-Va., Benjamin Cardin, D-Md., Tim Kaine, D-Va., Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and Gary Peters, D-Mich. They all represent large numbers of federal employees and contractors in their states. Th ..
Support the originator by clicking the read the rest link below.
