Staff Report
The TN Department of Human Resources shared with employees in an email today that Governor Lee’s Task Force Reimagine has established guidelines for all agencies to adhere to moving forward navigating through the pandemic.
The guidance is founded on four foundational principles:
- Prioritize safety for all Tennesseans, including both residents and employees
- Sustain “work from home” for all employees where possible to maximize physical distancing and “do our part” as state employees to protect the broader Tennessee community
- Deploy consistent safety and risk mitigation measures to ensure safe working environments for state employees who need to return to state offices and for residents who must receive government services in person
- Reimagine work, drawing upon lessons learned from the crisis to help Tennessee state government innovate how we work in the long term
Over the coming weeks, employees can expect Agency-specific guidance to inform how work will be reimagined at your Agency; however, the following directives will be followed across state government:
Work from Home
The mandate requiring state employees to work from home will expire beginning Tuesday, May 26; however, work from home should continue where possible. Employees who have been working from home should continue doing so until further notice from their Agency leadership.
AWS Policy Relaxation
To support the continuation of work from home, employees having childcare/eldercare responsibilities may continue to work from home, as long as the arrangement does not affect the business operation or the employee’s ability to perform the essential functions of their job.
COVID-19 Workplace Safety
Common safeguarding protocols for worksites, including those that have remained open during the pandemic and those that may host returning employees over the coming months, will be required until further notice. The protocols are based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommendations, as well as best practices that have been adopted elsewhere.
Agencies will provide additional information regarding the Reimagining Tennessee Government plan. Additional information is available online by visiting the COVID-19 information portal for state employees on www.TeamTN.gov.
