From: Vance Zimmerman <vzimmerman@apwu.org>
Sent: Tuesday, March 9, 2021
Subject: Absences due to COVID-19 Vaccine

The subject of absences occurring due to employees receiving the COVID-19 vaccine has come up a few times. I requested management’s position on these absences. The email message below states these absences would fall under the Liberal Leave Policy. It is the APWU opinion that these absences should not be cited for discipline. Please see the email from Acting Manager of APWU Contract Administration Shannon Richardson below. Please Disseminate.

From: Richardson, Shannon – Washington, DC
Sent: Monday, March 8, 2021
To: Vance Zimmerman
Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] Fw: COVID-19 Vaccinations

Vance,

Absences that occur as a result of receiving the COVID-19 vaccine should be treated consistent with the liberal leave agreements we currently have in place. The COVID Command Team is not planning to issue guidance specific to this issue.

If you have any further questions, please let me know.

Thanks,

Shannon Richardson
A/Manager
Headquarters APWU Contract Administration

Vance Zimmerman

Industrial Relations Director
American Postal Workers Union, AFL-CIO
1300 L Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005-4128
Tel: 202.842.4273 | Fax: 202.371.0992

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Related: Congress secures more paid leave for federal employees in newly-passed COVID-19 relief bill

“Employees could also use the leave for the purposes of receiving a COVID-19 vaccine or recovering from any symptoms or conditions related to immunization. There are, however, a few exceptions. Employees can’t use this new emergency paid leave at the same time as any other kind of paid time off, and the leave benefits will be capped at $1,400 a week…. The vast majority of federal employees are eligible to use this new type of emergency leave, including workers at the Postal Service….”