The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is facing a dilemma as it navigates a new Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) policy that could significantly impact employees with disabilities. The HHS policy imposes stricter telework rules, requiring all requests for telework, remote work, or reassignment to be reviewed and approved by a high-level official, potentially slowing down the approval process. This has led the CDC to explore unconventional methods to provide temporary medical telework to its employees.
According to sources, CDC supervisors have instructed employees to bypass the traditional reasonable accommodation system by emailing medical documentation directly to Lynda Chapman, the agency's chief operating officer. This approach allows employees to receive up to 30 days of telework as an interim accommodation. However, this method has raised concerns among employees and experts alike.
One CDC employee expressed skepticism about Chapman's involvement, stating that she should not be evaluating people's health needs, as it should be handled by a specialized RA specialist. Another employee shared a photo showing Chapman's recent addition as an authorized official to review reasonable accommodation materials, further highlighting the potential issues with this arrangement.
The new policy has also caused confusion among supervisors, who are unsure how to provide interim accommodations while complying with the HHS guidelines. During 'office hours' sessions, the agency's Office of Human Resources provided limited information, leaving supervisors concerned about legal risks and the lack of clear guidance.
Former senior advisor Linnet Griffiths emphasized the importance of a robust system for processing reasonable accommodations, criticizing the reduction of RA staff and EEO offices. She also mentioned the specialized training received by human resources employees to ensure due diligence in processing accommodations, including compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act.
Despite the challenges, the CDC's spokesperson defended the interim accommodation process, stating that it has always been a part of the reasonable accommodation process. However, the policy's impact on employees with disabilities, such as those with chronic diseases or compromised immune systems, has sparked concern among Senate Democrats.
In a letter, Senators Tim Kaine and Raphael Warnock highlighted the potential 'outsized harm' the policy could inflict on workers with disabilities. They cited examples of employees whose telework accommodations were rescinded, leading to severe health consequences. The senators also mentioned a disabled veteran whose telework request was denied, exacerbating their post-traumatic stress disorder following a shooting at the CDC's headquarters.
The HHS Press Secretary, Emily Hilliard, responded to the senators' concerns, assuring them that the department is committed to processing reasonable accommodation requests as quickly as possible while providing interim accommodations like telework during the review process.
