COVID-19 Update: Workplace Flexibilities
Dear Colleagues,
Last week Secretary Bunch highlighted some of the creative ways our community has been able to adapt and achieve our shared goals since the pandemic began. In the near term, new policies, technologies, and practices can help you balance your responsibilities (at home and work) while keeping those who must work on site safe. Longer term, these approaches will also shape the future of work at the Smithsonian.
Since the beginning of our COVID-19 response, workplace flexibilities have been available to support staff and limit person-to-person interactions in the workplace. Supervisors have been asked to be as accommodating as possible by authorizing those flexibilities whenever possible. The Office of Human Resources (OHR) has provided new and updated information about workplace flexibilities to support supervisors and employees and facilitate implementing these options.
Alternative Work Schedules: From compressed work schedules that allow you to work longer but fewer days in a pay period, to various flexible schedules that provide work hours tailored to your role, Smithsonian has options to make honoring your responsibilities easier. Several Alternative Work Schedules are described in this fact sheet. OHR has also addressed frequently asked questions to help you better understand how these schedule options should be used.
While these flexibilities are available Institution wide, not all options may be appropriate for all employees due to staffing needs, job requirements, and other considerations. Should you be interested in learning more or taking advantage of one of these flexibilities, please work with your supervisor and human resources liaison.
New Moodle Training: To support remote work, the new training Maintaining Productivity in a Virtual Environment, provides employees with tools and resources to succeed and excel in a virtual work environment. The training examines the importance of communication to success, provides resources to help you be productive, covers technology basics, and describes the differences between results-oriented and time-oriented goals. To access the training, log into telework.si.edu and sign into Moodle. Once in Moodle, enter the course title Maintaining Productivity in a Virtual Environment in the “Search courses” toolbar.
Emergency Paid Sick Leave (EPSL): This leave option will expire on December 31. All employees, including essential workers, are entitled to use up to 80 hours of EPSL for certain COVID-19 related reasons. EPSL may be used by employees who must quarantine, are sick with COVID-19 symptoms or have been diagnosed with COVID-19, or who need to care for someone who is sick or quarantined because of COVID-19. It can also be used to care for children if schools or care facilities are closed. Your compensation during EPSL is linked to the reason you requested it, either full pay or 2/3rds pay. Keep in mind, there is a pay cap for the total amount you can receive when taking advantage of EPSL. To learn more about all qualifying reasons, eligibility, and pay rates and caps, please read this fact sheet.
Voluntary Leave Transfer Program (VLTP): With the year quickly coming to an end, please also remember that if you have Use or Lose time that you will not be able to or do not wish to utilize, you can donate that leave to your colleagues through the VLTP. Through the program, staff may transfer annual leave to employees in need who are facing personal or family medical emergencies.
Should you have additional questions about workplace flexibilities and leave options, please work with your supervisor and human resources liaison. Thank you as always for your dedication, care, and consideration.
Stay safe and be well,
COVID-19 Response Team
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Posted: 10 December 2020
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