Anyone out there a rank-and-file federal employee? Anyone know of any plans for federal employees to, say, telecommute? Any plans for feds at all that you know of?
My DH, now retired, used to work for bureau of indian affairs (dept. of interior). At this federally funded university the only plan we’ve heard of is to open up certain campus buildings for patients. Who would take care of them is not known.
He has spoken to his dr. about it over the course of a year. First time dr. brushed him off with its nothing to worry about. Second time (in Sept) doc told him they are woefully unprepared.
Want to add-this doc works for feds, same as DH at this university.
I’m an Air Traffic Controller for the Federal Aviation Administration.
We have no plans that I am aware of to deal with any of this stuff. I suspect because we are “mission critical” and in a “security-related” position, we will be expected to be at work as usual.
We have always had alcohol wipes and disinfectant provided by the FAA to sanitize our shared equipment (hand sets, pens, traffic counters, computer keyboards, etc.)
The FAA was supposed to have a plan, but I think they just plan to make a plan.
Now, my manager shares my concern about AF, and we have talked about local stuff, but that’s about all. The problem is the FAA will try a “one-size-fits-all” plan, and that will NOT work with so many different size and type facilities.
NawtyBits — at 11:43 --- It could very well be that ATCs may not have jobs once a pandemic is announced. If the Gov’t shuts down the airports, there’ll be no use for ATCs or support personnel. That may be their plan…
I am an attorney for a modal administration at DOT (other than FAA). Management has engaged in a variery of COOP exercises including analysis of telecommuting possibilities, but nothing is final.
thanks, “–”
Hopefully after the stakeholder’s meeting in Atlanta this week, some more concrete recommendations will roll out.
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Bronco Bill at 12:05.
That would be my hope, but I expect the military to try to fly relief flights. Also, my airport has a military base, too, fighters that stand alert. I expect that at least for a while, there will be military flights…
But in that case, I would expect the military to take over control of the towers, since civilian air travel would be nil. In the last town I lived in, the Army Nat’l Guard had a base, and when civvy flights were down due to fog, the Army ATCs took over the tower for the day to “stay in practice”.
What happened to ATC after 911? Did you get put on standby or did you show up as usual? I would think that perhaps the PTB will use commercial air carriers to move supplies or some such in a pandemic. Aren`t there more of them than military planes?
BB…The military won’t be taking over towers. Not feasible. I suspect the military controllers will be opening “temporary” towers on what would be normally uncontrolled fields. You can’t just “walk in” to a tower or Center and work air planes. Doesn’t work that way. It takes years (3–5 for center, 2–3 for towers) to learn airspace, routes, obstructions, minimum vectoring altitudes, etc….
cactus….we showed up as usual. We worked. First we watched empty RADAR screens, then we worked military flights, then Lifeguard flights, then air taxis, then the rest.
very interesting NawtyBits, thank you for posting.
Hi Carrey! Here’s the link for info from the Federal Office of Personnel Management which I found several months ago. http://www.opm.gov/pandemic/
Retired after many years with the Feds. Understand that one of the items in the Federals Government Pandemic Flu plan is that if the attrition rate is high amongst active employees that they will call back some of us old retired folks. Gave it my all and much of my energy and life for forty years. This old fed is not going back, but would be willing to do what I could from home, my old job would lend itself to something like that. If and when it happens will call and offer my services. Nice to show up at retirements and such, but no desire to return!
NawtyBits, another ATC here. I filed and unsatisfactory condition report on the issue of no plan for the BF. My area manager laughed at me as he had never heard of it. The next day it was on the front page of the newspaper in bold print. The FAA’s response was to give me a 3 or 4 page “plan”. It had no specifics other than to state, “don’t worry, be happy” and the gov’t would take care of us. Pitiful.
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But CashB, at least you made one other person aware of the need for personal as well as company prepping! Good for you --- your area manager HAD to have at least felt somewhat foolish to have not been on top of things like you are.
Yes, he did feel foolish and he apologized for his ignorance. But he is a small cog in the wheel and the higher ups have done nothing toward protecting the workforce. I also asked the facility manager if he had concerns about BF and he said yes, he did. We work in tight quarters and touch all the same equipment and when someone gets sick, it spreads like wildfire… Not good.
CashB, My ATM is actually on board with the BF issue, her neighborhood is actually organizing. We have sort of a local plan that would have have one person up and one person down for a week straight (working, eating, sleeping in tower and TRACON). Then the next “crew”would come in and take over. Social distancing. Don’t know if it will work though. I could certainly sit there a week straight.
The FAAs plan is no plan. And there is no way a one-size-fits-all plan will work. I think it’s going to be every facility for itself. Sadly.
NawtyBits, at least you have a local plan! We are a level 5 facility so 1 and 1 probably wouldn’t work for us but just acknowledgement of BF and SOME movement forward on preparation would be positive… I feel air traffic would come to a screeching halt eventually and few controllers would be needed. AF would still have to show up to maintain equipment, and perhaps some staff support. Problem with any rotation of crew would be possible exposure with no symptoms on top of close quarters, virus on equipment, no foresight stocking supplies, etc. We know there would be LESS exposure, cause management wouldn’t show up!
CashB, Things go much smoother when mgt doesnt show up. I suspect that AT will grind to a halt during a panflu. Relief flights (until pilots get sick or dead) and military flights (until they stand down due to too many dead/sick. We have an ANG base at our airport, so I suspect we’d have something to do.
The federal government is so hypocritical, as it has been telling state and local governments for the past year to develop a plan, yet its own plan for federal employees is still incomplete. My agency’s plan has numerous sections that simply say - “a plan will be developed to….”.
I tried to call OPM to see if we will be granted “liberal leave” or be able to use our accumulated Sick Leave to stay home if a pandemic hits, but no one I spoke with at OPM knew if/when a decision on that would be made.
I know it is politically correct to say, “federal workers are critical and must report to work….”, but what good would that really do in most cases (especially in major cities like DC or Philly), if all the employees come to work, catch and spread the BF, and then get sick and die? I hope our leaders are smart enough to realize that the better long term plan is to tell people to stay home (shelter in place), try to telework as long as possible (until the internet crashes), and then after 6 to 12 weeks - report back to work and help rebuild the country….. or at least until the second wave hits.
;-) “I hope our leaders are smart enough to realize”…
“Hope is not a plan!!”
Maybe people better do “the best thing” whether “plans” ever get made or not; What would they have done if it had broken out last week?
Point is, they’re supposed to have something that will work when used, as this is expected to get used; not remain “plans on paper for something that we’ll never have to deal with”…
Good luck to you all; I appreciate your common sense in being able to consider this problem that seems to have so many, high and low, in denial.