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Return to the workplace begins June 6

April 22, 2022

Portrait: Tony Dixon in dress uniform in front of American and Forest Service flags.
Deputy Chief Tony Dixon, Business Operations

As I shared earlier this week, the Forest Service is approaching an encouraging milestone after two unanticipated years in a maximum telework posture.

The information in this article serves as the 45-day notice to all employees about returning to the physical workplace on June 6, 2022.

By the end of today, April 22, you will receive notification from your supervisor about your designation, whether you are telework or remote work eligible, as we begin our transition to a fully hybrid work environment. Telework and remote information is available on the HRM website. Please read the All FS email from Human Resources Management for in-depth information about these designations. Remote and telework eligibility determinations were made by Forest Service executive leaders based on assessment of the duties of each position.

Please note that negotiations around remote work and telework are still ongoing with our largest union, National Federation of Federal Employees, though we expect them to be completed well before June 6. As a result of these ongoing negotiations, we want to be sure that supervisors with NFFE bargaining unit employees avoid finalizing any written telework or remote work arrangements prior to completion of those negotiations. We will continue to keep you updated on the status of negotiations.

The automatic notifications that you received this week with your new designation are different than the telework and remote paperwork you will complete with your supervisor after union negotiations are resolved. So, supervisors and employees, please ensure that you complete your part of the notification process.

It is strongly recommended that supervisors meet with employees to answer questions or address concerns about the return to the physical workplace. If an employee has an extenuating circumstance that will not allow them to return to the physical workplace, they will need to contact their supervisor. Bargaining unit employees may have additional rights under negotiated agreements that apply to their re-entry arrangements. If you are unsure as to whether you are a bargaining unit employee, this webpage can help you answer that question: HRM Labor Relations.

Forest Service leaders will continue to anchor to our agency’s core values and code and commitments as we transition into a hybrid work environment. Your safety has always been a top priority, regardless of your duty location. You are the most important asset to the Forest Service.

USDA is finalizing the guidance for vaccinations and testing requirements. As information becomes available, it will be shared with employees. We know this is critical information to have as we work together in a shared workplace. In addition, we will continue to follow CDC recommendations for masking, social distancing and travel protocols.

Emails and Inside the Forest Service are the avenues being used to distribute information agency-wide. It is imperative for all of us to read these messages. Everyone is also highly encouraged to review the USDA Workplace Safety Plan.

If you have questions, please reach out to your supervisor. If you are a supervisor and need answers, please reach out to your own supervisor. Supervisors have a key role in sharing information with their staff members and talking with their employees.

You can also submit questions and receive answers using the Office of Communication web forum. This forum is staffed by leaders and experts throughout the agency. You may also submit your questions directly to the employee feedback inbox.

Before concluding, let me thank all of you for your significant contributions to delivering the agency mission during the pandemic. The Forest Service motto of “Caring for the land and serving people” requires our work to be done in many different locations and in many different ways. Whether in the physical workplace or remote, your dedication and service to supporting the agency’s mission is noticed and appreciated.

Thank you for all you do every day.

 

https://www.fs.usda.gov/inside-fs/delivering-mission/excel/return-workplace-begins-june-6