Task Force Issues Guidance To Implement Biden’s Orders to Vaccinate All Federal Workers & Contractors

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On September 13, the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force (Task Force) published guidance for implementing the requirements of President Biden’s Executive Orders requiring all federal employees and any contractors or subcontractors working on a federal contract to get vaccinated. The guidance provides model safety principles for executive departments and agencies for their COVID-19 workplace safety plans.

The Task Force says that all federal employees must be fully vaccinated, except in limited circumstances, as quickly as possible and by no later than November 22, 2021. Agencies are instructed to work expeditiously to ensure their employees get fully vaccinated; this includes allowing employees to get vaccinated during work time and receive paid time off to address any side effects for themselves or family members.

As for contractor employees, the Task Force recognizes that they may not yet be subject to a contractual requirement to be vaccinated. Therefore agencies need to ask about the vaccination status of onsite contractor employees who are not yet contractually required to be vaccinated. In addition, those who are not fully vaccinated and are not part of an agency testing program must prove a negative COVID-19 test no later than the previous three days before entry to a Federal building.

When an individual discloses that they are not fully vaccinated or declines to provide information on their vaccination status, agencies are expected to treat that individual as not fully vaccinated for purposes of implementing safety measures, including mask-wearing and physical distancing.

The guidance provides specific details on handling contact tracing, travel, meetings and events, telework and remote work, maintaining a COVID-19 Coordination Team, symptom monitoring, workplace operations, confidentiality, and privacy.

 

To learn more about the detailed guidance visit https://www.saferfederalworkforce.gov/downloads/updates%20to%20model%20safety%20principles%209.13.21.pdf