The following message is for Operations employees. 

Operation is providing employees with the flexibility to use official duty station (ODS) equipment while working at the alternate duty station (ADS) as part of the response to the COVID-19 Pandemic.  

This initiative is completely voluntary.  Please ask your members who are interested in this flexibility to coordinate with their managers as there are some offices, in high risk areas, from which employees will not be able to obtain equipment. 

Please see the guidance below explaining how the pickup will occur and the attached information regarding connecting the equipment when the employee returns to the ADS:

What ODS equipment are employees permitted to take to their ADS?

·         One (1) monitor

·         One (1) mouse

·         One (1) keyboard

All other peripherals must be left in the office.  (NOTE:  Monitors mounted to arms that are attached to your desk or cubicle are not permitted to be removed for transport to your ADS.”)

How will employees pick up the equipment?  

• Employees will be granted a reasonable amount of duty time (normally up to 2 hours) to come to the office to pick up their equipment and return home to resume work.

• Any employee who wishes to retrieve equipment must schedule a time with management to enter the office.

• Managers must schedule appointments in compliance with current guidelines on social distancing and other guidelines provided within your state or local area. This arrangement will be decided at the component level.

• After the equipment is disconnected, a member of management will record the identifying information for the equipment prior to the employee removing the equipment from the office.

• Employees will ensure they transport and use the equipment in a safe manner and return the equipment in usable condition at the end of the current work at home period.

• Equipment should not be left unattended or unsecured at any time while in transit to or from the ADS.

• Employees with disabilities should work directly with their managers regarding reasonable accommodations.

• If employees need any assistance disconnecting equipment or reconnecting it at home, they should contact their local SLC/SC.

Sent: Friday, March 27, 2020 3:39 PM
Subject: COVID-19 - Falls Church

All OHO Headquarters employees,

We are kindly sharing information received from DCARO/OAO regarding Falls Church.

Office of Budget, Facilities and Security

From: ^DCARO OAO <DCARO.OAO@ssa.gov>
Sent: Friday, March 27, 2020 4:15 PM
To: #DCARO OAO All Email Users <DCARO.OAO.All.Email.Users@ssa.gov>
Cc: Landis, Dean <Dean.Landis@ssa.gov>; Lytle, Joseph <Joseph.Lytle@ssa.gov>
Subject: COVID-19 - Falls Church - follow up

In the afternoon of March 26, OAO management was first notified of the positive COVID-19 test for an OAO employee who works on the 11^th floor of Skyline Tower.  OAO management promptly consulted with OPE’s Medical Office who noted the expiring 14 day quarantine period advised by the CDC.  Nonetheless, in an abundance of caution, we issued a notification to all OAO employees regarding the situation.

The agency is conducting an enhanced cleaning of the 11^th floor and the building’s common areas in compliance with CDC guidelines.

We must preserve the privacy of the affected employee, but we are able to share the following facts associated with this circumstance:

• The employee’s last day in the office was Saturday, March 14, and they have not returned to the office since that date.
• When the employee left the office, they were asymptomatic.
• The employee was tested on Wednesday, March 18 and received the positive test result a week later.
• The CDC recommends that individuals who potentially may have been in contact with an infected person, self-quarantine for 14 days, which in this circumstance would approximately conclude on March 28.

If you have questions about your risk of exposure or any other health risk, your doctor is the best person to ask.  If you have other questions or if would like to discuss your personal situation, please reach out to your supervisor.

We will continue to update you in the event that we learn of additional information related to COVID-19.  For more information regarding COVID-19, please refer to the SSA Medical Office COVID-19 FAQs and the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) COVID-19 webpages.