Bill Overview
Title: Chai Suthammanont Remembrance Act of 2022
Description: This bill requires federal agencies to establish and publish safety plans that contain certain information for on-site employees and contractors during a nationwide public health emergency declared for an infectious disease. Specifically, the bill requires each agency to post a safety plan on its website that includes (1) the agency's mitigation efforts, including personal protective equipment provided and testing for on-site workers; (2) guidance on cleaning protocols and occupancy limits; (3) protections for employees whose work requires them to travel off-site; and (4) protocols that ensure the continuity of operations. Each agency must communicate the plan to new employees, contractors, and subcontractors not later than 30 days after an employee is hired or a contract is entered. Each agency's Office of Inspector General must report on whether the agency has published and implemented its safety plan.
Sponsors: Rep. Connolly, Gerald E. [D-VA-11]
Target Audience
Population: Federal employees and contractors in the U.S.
Estimated Size: 2100000
- The bill affects federal agencies, which employ approximately 2.1 million civilian workers as of 2022, according to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
- It involves on-site employees and contractors, a subset of the full federal workforce, suggesting fewer than 2.1 million will be directly impacted.
- The U.S. federal workforce includes substantial numbers, but the bill's requirement for site-specific plans implies it primarily concerns those in locations requiring mitigation processes.
- Contractors also represent a significant portion of the federal workforce. The exact number varies, but estimates often suggest hundreds of thousands, potentially adding to the affected population.
- During a public health emergency, not all employees may be on-site due to telecommuting or other arrangements, further refining the number impacted.
Reasoning
- The simulation focuses on federal employees and contractors who are more likely to be directly affected by the policy. Each person's situation helps highlight diverse aspects such as remote work provisions, travel requirements, or additional health measures relevant to their specific roles within the agencies.
- The policy budget limits the extent of mitigation efforts and the comprehensiveness of the safety plans. Thus, not all aspects of worker well-being might improve dramatically based on the initial available budget and the scale of target population.
- Most of the interviewed individuals are expected to have medium to low impacts in the short term because the primary changes involve safety planning and information dissemination rather than direct financial or immediate health benefits.
Simulated Interviews
Policy Analyst (Washington, D.C.)
Age: 36 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm relieved to see more formalized health plans in place.
- It gives me confidence that my workplace is taking the right steps during emergencies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
IT Contractor (Madison, WI)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having clear safety protocols reassures me.
- It can be a bit overwhelming understanding all the guidelines, though.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Administrative Assistant (New York, NY)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm fairly new, so knowing there is a solid plan helps me feel settled.
- I hope they keep us updated regularly, as communication is key.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Consultant (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While I work off-site mostly, clarity during trips sets a good precedent.
- I prefer more proactive notifications.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Safety Officer (Chicago, IL)
Age: 52 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's reassuring to have a mandated framework.
- Adapting these measures shows our agency's priority to staff safety.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Project Manager (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 41 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having prepared plans ensures smoother work operations.
- I hope this initiative fosters higher trust within the teams.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Field Agent (Denver, CO)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy change is necessary for on-field staff like us.
- We need consistency in protective measures across locations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Research Assistant (Houston, TX)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It feels good to have clearer policies to follow, especially concerning lab safety.
- Hopefully, it'll cover all my concerns as more details unfold.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Federal Building Maintainer (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 54 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Knowing our agency has plans makes coming to work less daunting.
- I really appreciate the transparency they aim to provide.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Environmental Scientist (Seattle, WA)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Clear guidelines on what the agency expects supports my stress levels.
- Consistency across departments is something I hope this plan guarantees.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $120000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $150000000)
Year 2: $120000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $150000000)
Year 3: $120000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $150000000)
Year 5: $120000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $150000000)
Year 10: $120000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $150000000)
Year 100: $120000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $150000000)
Key Considerations
- The federal workforce operates in a wide array of environments which could necessitate diverse safety and mitigation efforts.
- Complications may arise in coordinating and maintaining the consistency of safety plans across multiple agencies with varying functions.