The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will allow its employees to work remotely on a limited basis after the recent spike in omicron-variant COVID-19 cases, according to a recent memo from the agency’s operations department.
NRC extended “additional flexibilities for project-based telework” to Feb. 26 from Jan. 15, according to a Jan. 6 memo to staff from the office of commission operations director Daniel Dorman.
“Increasing telework flexibilities through February is an option for our workforce to reduce additional risks of exposure and provide time to better understand how the Omicron variant is spreading and affecting our local communities,” the memo said.
Although NRC is allowing its employees to work from home a little longer, it is “not reverting” back to a maximum telework scheme, the memo said.
“During this period, project-based telework should be considered as a way to mitigate potential risks,” NRC said. “We will continue to monitor conditions to determine the appropriate time to change this position.”
The commission in November allowed more of its staff at its Rockville, Md. headquarters, four regional offices and technical training center to return to working in person. An NRC spokesperson told Exchange Monitor at the time that agency employees were working in-person around two days a week.
