Prioritizing Safety, Health, and Civility in 2021

The mission of the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights is to advance workplace rights, safety and health, and accessibility in the legislative branch. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the OCWR has focused on the many challenges presented by the current remote work environment and has developed recommendations and programs to assist legislative branch employees and employing offices in addressing these challenges.

• Ergonomics Outreach Program: Created by the OCWR’s Occupational Safety and Health Specialists, this program assists employing offices and individuals to develop, design, or update their own ergonomics programs. A self-evaluation document offers a checklist of information to minimize musculoskeletal disorders. More information can be found at ocwr.gov or contact the OCWR at OSH@ocwr.gov.
• Workplace civility and inclusion training: This training reviews core concepts of workplace civility, highlights the institutional benefits, and proposes strategies to foster an inclusive work environment. A special component on fostering and maintaining civil dialogue and managing conflict in the remote work environment is included. For more information or to schedule a training session for your office, call the OCWR or email ocwrtraining@ocwr.gov.
• OCWR Notification of Rights poster is available for download at ocwr.gov