Page 3 - The MILConnection: Winter 2022

from the service center

Federal vaccine mandate update

On December 7, 2021, a federal district judge issued a preliminary injunction blocking
the enforcement of the Federal Contractor vaccine mandate nationwide. As a result, the
enforcement of the Federal Contractor vaccine mandate program for all contractors and
subcontractors has been suspended, and the future viability of this mandate is unclear.
In light of this new development, MIL still intends to assess the readiness of its workforce.
As we continue to await additional guidance on the Federal Contractor vaccine mandate, the
below is what you can expect:

» MIL encourages all employees to confirm their vaccination status.
» MIL encourages all employees who have confirmed that they do not intend to get
vaccinated to submit an exemption request.
» MIL will continue to process all existing exemption requests.

The more workforce information we can gather now will allow the company adequate time to
prepare for implementation of the Federal Contractor vaccine mandate including assessment
of all exemption requests.
We appreciate your patience and cooperation as we continue to navigate this fluid situation.

Timesheet notifications

Our Payroll team understands that timesheet notifications can be a bit overwhelming, however
they serve as important reminders to those that have not submitted their timesheets by the
deadline. The frequency of the notifications is determined by the number of outstanding
timesheets we have for that pay period. It is imperative that you cooperate with these reminders
so that we do not have a delay in issuing your paychecks. Please complete your timesheet each
day and submit it in advance of the biweekly deadline.

In step with DoS:

Integrating DEIA into management practices

MIL and the U.S. Department of State (DoS) are on the same page on Diversity, Equity,
Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) with both organizations taking affirmative steps to
create a better workforce by creating a better workspace. DoS Secretary Anthony Blinken has
noted that a more inclusive workforce is stronger, smarter, and better equipped to handle the
foreign policy challenges of the 21st century. He considers it a “strategic imperative” that the
Department’s workforce better represent all of the United States and reflect the “talents and
interests of all its citizens.”
The State Department’s efforts are in response to White House Executive Order 14035 on
DEIA within the federal workforce. The Secretary’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion recently
released guidance that outlines tips on how to integrate DEIA into management practices and
encourages all of its bureaus and offices to use this guidance to better integrate DEIA into their
operations.

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