The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced its return-to office-policies Monday, a move expected to affect one-fifth of the agency’s 479,000 employees.
The new VA policy states eligible employees must work full-time to their worksites unless “excused due to a disability, qualifying medical condition or other compelling reason.”
The announcement comes after President Donald Trump’s Jan. 20 presidential order on return to in-person work. More than 20% of VA’s more than 479,000 employees have telework or remote work arrangements, according to the agency.
As part of the new policy, political appointees, senior executive service members, SES equivalents, senior level and scientific and professional employees will no longer be eligible for remote work arrangements. By Feb. 24, their telework agreements will be terminated, except for ad hoc or situational telework. Also, by Feb. 24, remote work and telework arrangements for supervisors with official duty stations within 50 miles of an agency facility will be terminated, except for ad hoc or situational telework.
All non-union workers within 50 miles of an agency facility will lose remote work and telework arrangements by April 28. Those who live further than 50 miles will be able to continue remote work and telework arrangements until further guidance.
The memo also noted that return to in-person work requirements for union employees who are part of a bargaining unit will be announced at a later date.
VA’s policy allows exceptions for arrangements approved for employees as a reasonable accommodation due to a disability or a qualifying medical condition. Exceptions may also be allowed for military spouses with permanent change of station orders.
“This is a commonsense step toward treating all VA employees equally,” Acting VA Secretary Todd Hunter said. “Most VA clinical staff don’t have the luxury of working remotely, and we believe the performance, collaboration and productivity of the department will improve if all VA employees are held to the same standard.”
The Veterans Health Administration is the largest integrated health care system in the U.S., providing care at 1,380 health care facilities, including 170 VA Medical Centers and 1,193 outpatient sites to more than 9.1 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program.
