Date: | March 22, 2020 |
To: | All TSA Employees |
From: | Patricia Bradshaw Assistant Administrator for Human Capital
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Subject: | 1100 – Updates on Information Related to Coronavirus (COVID-19) |
If there is one thing we can take away from our response to COVID-19, it’s that unprecedented times call for unprecedented responses. What we have witnessed the past two weeks is nothing short of inspiring as you continue to demonstrate professionalism and hard work.
Leadership remains committed to doing what we can to support each of you at a level equal to the dedication that you continue to provide to secure our nation. To do so, Administrator Pekoske has authorized the maximum use of his authorities to ensure that we provide the best support possible to each of you. Here’s an update on some of the actions we have recently taken.
First, we have maximized telework flexibilities and authorized additional leave flexibilities. To highlight a few of the most substantial measures, we have:
· Authorized telework availability to all employees whose work can be accomplished remotely;
· Allowed employees in higher-risk categories to self-certify and request telework or Weather and Safety Leave as applicable;
· Provided 24 hours of Weather and Safety Leave for non-telework eligible employees to take care of personal affairs, such as coordinating child and elder care, as a result of closures and cancellations due to COVID-19; and
· Ensured that employees who are exposed to or diagnosed with COVID-19 do not need to utilize their own leave to cover their absences related to this disease.
Second, we plan to expand the use of Weather and Safety Leave for employees who work at airports with reduced staffing needs. Use of this leave will be implemented and approved as needed by local leadership. With no interruption to pay, this will maintain our nationwide capabilities through this crisis and ensure we’re only staffing the personnel needed as passenger volumes continue to decline for the near future. As a reminder, employees who are approved for either Weather and Safety Leave or Excused Absence continue to receive their regular rate of pay. However, night, Sunday, and split-shift differentials are not paid during time spent in a leave status.
Additionally, we wanted to clarify questions we’ve received on medical documentation. Based on updated guidance from medical professionals, we have also identified 65 as the general age when a person is considered higher-risk. Currently, with a health care system that is overwhelmed, we’re not asking for medical documentation to support requests for supervisor approval of Weather and Safety Leave from employees who self-certify they are in a CDC identified “high-risk” category.
However, once we’ve moved beyond this crisis, we may ask employees who requested Weather and Safety Leave based on their self-identification in a higher-risk category to provide medical documentation substantiating their self-certification. This would not be a request for medical details and you will not be asked to specify why you were at higher-risk, only that you are in one of the CDC high-risk categories, which include age or serious underlying medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and lung disease. Additional guidance with further details will be provided early this coming week.
We recognize that these are challenging times both personally and professionally, but we also know that TSA was built on the resilience of this nation and we will once again pull through. We will continue to keep you updated as the situation evolves. Thank you for your service to TSA’s security mission and to the country.
