EPA is boosting scrutiny of its employees as they return to the office in compliance with the Trump administration tossing telework flexibilities.
While the “vast majority” of its workforce is now back in the office, “the agency will evaluate and monitor employee compliance with these requirements,” Michael Molina, principal deputy assistant administrator in the Office of Mission Support, wrote in a Tuesday memo viewed by POLITICO’s E&E News.
“Failure to report to agency worksites will result in formal discipline, up to and including removal from federal service,” Molina continued. “Disciplinary actions may be based on absence without leave (AWOL), working from an unauthorized duty location, failing to comply with agency directives, failure to properly submit time and attendance information, failure to be forthcoming and candid with information, among other charges.”
To track compliance, EPA will evaluate swipe data from employees’ “personal identity verification” (PIV) cards, Molina wrote, as well as information gleaned from laptop logins. Staffers with “reasonable accommodation” agreements allowing telework or remote work should confirm with their supervisors that those agreements are documented and remain in effect, he added.
