Federal workers to get time off for health screening

Federal agencies to review policies and ensure employees have the flexibility to explore preventive health strategies

Federal employees with limited available sick leave will be able to take up to four hours of additional paid time off each year for health screenings like mammography, pap smears, and blood pressure and cholesterol checks.

The Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, the health insurance plan for federal employees, covers a wide range of preventive health services, including screening for prostate, cervical, colo-rectal and breast cancer and screening for sickle cell and blood lead levels.

"This initiative is an incredible opportunity for federal workers to take a proactive role in defeating serious disease while it is in its earliest and most curable stages," said Janice R. Lachance, Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). "For a simple investment of a few hours per employee, significant improvements in the health and well-being of the entire federal workforce will be the ultimate result," Lachance added

Presidential memorandum calls upon agencies to act
A memorandum from President Clinton also called upon agencies to step up health screenings by:

• preventive services through in-house health units;
  
• preventive services through on-site fitness centers;
  
• encouraging agencies to create or share services with other agencies;
  
• encouraging agencies to hire new health staff or use existing agency personnel; contract for health services with vendors; or provide for health activities through volunteer or no-cost arrangements; and
  
• encouraging employee organizations to sponsor health activities.

The President's memorandum directs federal agencies to review their policies and make maximum use of existing work scheduling and leave flexibilities to allow federal employees to take advantage of screening programs and other preventive health measures. Such flexibilities include flexible and compressed work schedules and sick and annual leave programs. In addition, agencies are to excuse employees from work to participate in agency sponsored health activities.

OPM will have a new publication – "A Federal Workplace Guide to Preventive Health Services" – available on its web site which will answer many of the administrative questions agencies might have in implementing preventive health programs and provides relevant examples and resources. You can access this publication at www.opm.gov/ehs/index.htm#phs.

Edited by Bob Arguero, Managing Editor, GovCon