Trump's return-to-office mandate exempted feds with disabilities. Many are being ordered to work in-person anyway

"On his first day in office, President Donald Trump issued a directive largely ending telework and remote work for federal employees, arguing that the workplace flexibility had been abused following the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualifying civil servants with disabilities, however, were exempt from the return-to-office mandate. The Office of Personnel Management in December reiterated this exception in its guide to telework and remote work for the federal government, noting that telework as a reasonable accommodation is distinct from an agency's general telework policy."

"Agencies are required to provide reasonable accommodations, which help enable an employee with a disability to perform a job, unless doing so would result in "undue hardship." Common examples include interpreters, flexible schedules and accessible technology. Still, interviews with federal employees with disabilities show that many have been ordered to in-person work. Over the past year, these individuals have been forced to contend with ever-shifting rules around agency telework, often, they say, at the expense of their mental and physical health."

President Donald Trump issued a directive largely ending telework for federal employees, arguing the flexibility had been abused after the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualifying civil servants with disabilities were exempt from the return-to-office mandate. The Office of Personnel Management reiterated that telework as a reasonable accommodation is distinct from an agency's general telework policy. Agencies must provide reasonable accommodations unless they cause undue hardship; examples include interpreters, flexible schedules and accessible technology. Despite the exception, many federal employees with disabilities were ordered to work in-person. Changing agency telework rules have strained these employees' mental and physical health. One employee reported chronic inability to get out of bed, grogginess, dizziness, lightheadedness, inability to focus and severe brain fog.

Read at Government Executive