COVID, workplace rules and employee responsibilities.

[Rhea]

Interesting conversation today.

Employees are entitled to some paid time off, per their contract.

BUT, what if they decide to take their vacation in a hot-spot, and return requiring quarantine because someone in their party gets sick, or they come in contact with someone sick?

Are they now entitled to 2 more weeks paid at home in quarantine?
Or should they factor into their vacation plans that if they aren’t willing to risk 2 weeks of unpaid leave, they should enjoy their vacation away from known and obvious risks?


What other employment situations are new to this global plague?

 

[Keith&Co.]

Business travel to Navy sites is coming up for some coworkers. The Navy requires 14 days quarantine before allowing us to interact with sailors. So, IFF Strat Weps Week happens, and IFF i go, i need reservations for three weeks on site, two of them in isolation. So i can give a presentation they won't allow to be over ten minutes, to further limit the exposures of men that are going to be locked in a steel can for four months...

 

[Rhea]

Business travel to Navy sites is coming up for some coworkers. The Navy requires 14 days quarantine before allowing us to interact with sailors. So, IFF Strat Weps Week happens, and IFF i go, i need reservations for three weeks on site, two of them in isolation. So i can give a presentation they won't allow to be over ten minutes, to further limit the exposures of men that are going to be locked in a steel can for four months...

Well that seems.... inefficient.

 

[Worldtraveller]

Welcome to the new world.

I'm also a military contractor. In order to maintain social distancing, they (the USAF) are having us work from home every other week. This involves, for most of us, taking desktop systems (not laptops) home. This means an extra half hour or so at the beginning and end of every work week to setup and take down our systems. While it's not huge, the number of work hours lost to this really adds up over time. Considering that our office is filled with mostly GS14 and up pay grades, that's a lot of taxpayer $$$ flying out the windows. And there's no reason for it. I think I was actually more efficient at 90% of my tasks working from home.

Plus, I can't even commute by bicycle 2 days a week now.

 

[Elixir]

Business travel to Navy sites is coming up for some coworkers. The Navy requires 14 days quarantine before allowing us to interact with sailors. So, IFF Strat Weps Week happens, and IFF i go, i need reservations for three weeks on site, two of them in isolation. So i can give a presentation they won't allow to be over ten minutes, to further limit the exposures of men that are going to be locked in a steel can for four months...

Well that seems.... inefficient.

In the short run, yeah. But - waddya gonna do? The cost of infecting an entire crew is so excessive that inefficiency is a more desirable outcome.

 

[Rhea]

Business travel to Navy sites is coming up for some coworkers. The Navy requires 14 days quarantine before allowing us to interact with sailors. So, IFF Strat Weps Week happens, and IFF i go, i need reservations for three weeks on site, two of them in isolation. So i can give a presentation they won't allow to be over ten minutes, to further limit the exposures of men that are going to be locked in a steel can for four months...

Well that seems.... inefficient.

In the short run, yeah. But - waddya gonna do? The cost of infecting an entire crew is so excessive that inefficiency is a more desirable outcome.

I was thinking that what they do is deliver the 10 minute presentation by video conference?

 

[Keith&Co.]

In the short run, yeah. But - waddya gonna do? The cost of infecting an entire crew is so excessive that inefficiency is a more desirable outcome.

I was thinking that what they do is deliver the 10 minute presentation by video conference?

except some of the presentations are classified. Mine isn't, so that's why there's still a question of 'if i go,' but some of my company's stuff is not goingbto be transmitted.

 

[Rhea]

except some of the presentations are classified. Mine isn't, so that's why there's still a question of 'if i go,' but some of my company's stuff is not goingbto be transmitted.

Ahh, gotcha. Needs creative. Maybe a recording of the presention and a secure thumb drive sent. But I see how this could cause an exceptions issue. High cost!

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

In the short run, yeah. But - waddya gonna do? The cost of infecting an entire crew is so excessive that inefficiency is a more desirable outcome.

I was thinking that what they do is deliver the 10 minute presentation by video conference?

except some of the presentations are classified. Mine isn't, so that's why there's still a question of 'if i go,' but some of my company's stuff is not goingbto be transmitted.

Hmm...

NEW LONDON, CT -- A White House spokesperson indicated that they were investigating the leak of a document by a former Naval Officer.

The leaked document consisted of a powerpoint presentation.

According to officials who were knowledgeable of the situation indicated that the creator of the presentation didn't want to go to a meeting to present this, so he leaked it online.

 

[Keith&Co.]

except some of the presentations are classified. Mine isn't, so that's why there's still a question of 'if i go,' but some of my company's stuff is not goingbto be transmitted.

Ahh, gotcha. Needs creative. Maybe a recording of the presention and a secure thumb drive sent. But I see how this could cause an exceptions issue. High cost!

Thumb drives aren't allowed in the Trident Training Center for security reasons.

Between the federal government's rules, the Navy's, the command's, the company's, it's as hard to meet everyone's requirements as running a pharmacy.
Dad used to tell me that one inspector insisted all narcotics be shelved together so a theft would be instantly noticed.
An inspector from a different agency would not allow that, as that made thefts easier to accomplish, just grab everything from shelf 1,2, and 3. Yet another wanted narcotics a minimum distance from the door becuase reasons.
All with documents supporting their requirements, and all with the authority to demand compliance.

Reading thru the various instructions impinging on SWS Week, travel, vendors, contractual support, security, safety, and now The Plague makes me think of that.

 

[Keith&Co.]

NEW LONDON, CT -- A White House spokesperson indicated that they were investigating the leak of a document by a former Naval Officer.

The leaked document consisted of a powerpoint presentation.

According to officials who were knowledgeable of the situation indicated that the creator of the presentation didn't want to go to a meeting to present this, so he leaked it online.

Wouldn't help. It may no longer be classified after revealing, but i still have to take questions...

 

[cycomiko]

Welcome to the new world.

I'm also a military contractor. In order to maintain social distancing, they (the USAF) are having us work from home every other week. This involves, for most of us, taking desktop systems (not laptops) home. This means an extra half hour or so at the beginning and end of every work week to setup and take down our systems. While it's not huge, the number of work hours lost to this really adds up over time. Considering that our office is filled with mostly GS14 and up pay grades, that's a lot of taxpayer $$$ flying out the windows. And there's no reason for it. I think I was actually more efficient at 90% of my tasks working from home.

Plus, I can't even commute by bicycle 2 days a week now.

Looking at your location, I assume you work at Hill. I'm also a contractor on base but since none of my work can be taken home, I've been coming in on my regular schedule this entire time. It's nice having empty parking lots and no lines at the gates but there's probably 30% of the people working in my building that just don't wear masks when in the common areas.

I was in Scotland when the travel ban stuff started so I cut my trip short and when I got back to Utah I was "asked" to stay home for 2 weeks by 309th leadership as well as my own manager. I got a company laptop and basically just did training for those 2 weeks. I was told I could get paid time off if I was put under mandatory quarantine but not if it was voluntary. Since I was "asked" to stay home it didn't count as mandatory.

 

[Worldtraveller]

Welcome to the new world.

I'm also a military contractor. In order to maintain social distancing, they (the USAF) are having us work from home every other week. This involves, for most of us, taking desktop systems (not laptops) home. This means an extra half hour or so at the beginning and end of every work week to setup and take down our systems. While it's not huge, the number of work hours lost to this really adds up over time. Considering that our office is filled with mostly GS14 and up pay grades, that's a lot of taxpayer $$$ flying out the windows. And there's no reason for it. I think I was actually more efficient at 90% of my tasks working from home.

Plus, I can't even commute by bicycle 2 days a week now.

Looking at your location, I assume you work at Hill. I'm also a contractor on base but since none of my work can be taken home, I've been coming in on my regular schedule this entire time. It's nice having empty parking lots and no lines at the gates but there's probably 30% of the people working in my building that just don't wear masks when in the common areas.

I was in Scotland when the travel ban stuff started so I cut my trip short and when I got back to Utah I was "asked" to stay home for 2 weeks by 309th leadership as well as my own manager. I got a company laptop and basically just did training for those 2 weeks. I was told I could get paid time off if I was put under mandatory quarantine but not if it was voluntary. Since I was "asked" to stay home it didn't count as mandatory.

Yep. I've been working at home since early March. No reason not to continue to do so, but the USAF wants bodies in seats...or something.

You should hear the shit we say about the 309th here!

 

[cycomiko]

Welcome to the new world.

I'm also a military contractor. In order to maintain social distancing, they (the USAF) are having us work from home every other week. This involves, for most of us, taking desktop systems (not laptops) home. This means an extra half hour or so at the beginning and end of every work week to setup and take down our systems. While it's not huge, the number of work hours lost to this really adds up over time. Considering that our office is filled with mostly GS14 and up pay grades, that's a lot of taxpayer $$$ flying out the windows. And there's no reason for it. I think I was actually more efficient at 90% of my tasks working from home.

Plus, I can't even commute by bicycle 2 days a week now.

Looking at your location, I assume you work at Hill. I'm also a contractor on base but since none of my work can be taken home, I've been coming in on my regular schedule this entire time. It's nice having empty parking lots and no lines at the gates but there's probably 30% of the people working in my building that just don't wear masks when in the common areas.

I was in Scotland when the travel ban stuff started so I cut my trip short and when I got back to Utah I was "asked" to stay home for 2 weeks by 309th leadership as well as my own manager. I got a company laptop and basically just did training for those 2 weeks. I was told I could get paid time off if I was put under mandatory quarantine but not if it was voluntary. Since I was "asked" to stay home it didn't count as mandatory.

Yep. I've been working at home since early March. No reason not to continue to do so, but the USAF wants bodies in seats...or something.

You should hear the shit we say about the 309th here!

You should hear the shit WE say about the 309th. It's a constant struggle with these ALC guys.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

In Ohio, our company shifted in office, 'you really should be here' date was pushed to August.

 

[Playball40]

Would quarantine be applied to 'sick time'?

Interesting conversation today.

Employees are entitled to some paid time off, per their contract.

BUT, what if they decide to take their vacation in a hot-spot, and return requiring quarantine because someone in their party gets sick, or they come in contact with someone sick?

Are they now entitled to 2 more weeks paid at home in quarantine?
Or should they factor into their vacation plans that if they aren’t willing to risk 2 weeks of unpaid leave, they should enjoy their vacation away from known and obvious risks?


What other employment situations are new to this global plague?

 

[Worldtraveller]

Would quarantine be applied to 'sick time'?

Interesting conversation today.

Employees are entitled to some paid time off, per their contract.

BUT, what if they decide to take their vacation in a hot-spot, and return requiring quarantine because someone in their party gets sick, or they come in contact with someone sick?

Are they now entitled to 2 more weeks paid at home in quarantine?
Or should they factor into their vacation plans that if they aren’t willing to risk 2 weeks of unpaid leave, they should enjoy their vacation away from known and obvious risks?


What other employment situations are new to this global plague?

My company added a new category for sick time. If you test positive for COVID-19, they give you 10 sick days to use for that in addition to the usual sick time. That's to quarantine or recover. You don't have to use it if you aren't very symptomatic and can work from home.

 

[marc]

Work in IT, entire company has been working from home since March. They are starting to let some people into buildings if they really need to and apply for it. No one in my group has much need to go in, but I do miss my desk

 

[TV and credit cards]

We've been home since mid March. My laptop is home for email and elearning stuff but other than that, we go in to do only what is necessary and then go home. For me, working alone and not working in the office, it doesn't much matter. If this last into the fall and there is a resurgence, I might not have to be in much the rest of the year and then some. Who knows.
Guys who let leave pile up are still faced it the usual use or loose situation. I don't know why people leave so much leave on the books. I'm always at the other end. If I save up ten hours, I'm taking Friday off.

Rents are dropping In San Fran. People are digging this work from home stuff.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

In the short run, yeah. But - waddya gonna do? The cost of infecting an entire crew is so excessive that inefficiency is a more desirable outcome.

I was thinking that what they do is deliver the 10 minute presentation by video conference?

except some of the presentations are classified. Mine isn't, so that's why there's still a question of 'if i go,' but some of my company's stuff is not goingbto be transmitted.

So what if it's classified? You're in room A in a secure facility. It shares an airtight glass wall with room B, you have an audio system set up to talk through the wall. No contact, you don't need to quarantine. It would probably be cheaper to build something like that (it need not be fancy) than quarantine one person.