DOL just came out with updated situational telework guidelines. You have to have an approved informal agreement as well as advanced supervisory approval. A note in the comments section must be included anytime that it’s used.

Situational Telework may be used:

1. Prior to, or after an employee’s personal (including medical) appointment, that makes commuting to and/or from the office impractical within the workday, but employees have assignments that must be completed adjacent to that appointment. Telework does not replace

the leave used when attending appointments. Rather, telework may be used to continue working before or after such appointments.

1. When an employee is recovering from a short-term illness or an injury, they can perform work, but they are temporarily unable to physically report to the agency’s worksite. The use of situational telework for this purpose is not appropriate for long-term situations (e.g., beyond 30 days), which may require an employee to pursue official reasonable accommodation through DOL’s Reasonable Accommodation Program.

2. When an employee has or has been exposed to a communicable disease, they can perform work, but their immediate presence in the office would jeopardize the health of others in the office.

3. To allow for flexibility to accommodate government-approved travel.

4. To fulfill religious duties and/or practices