Veterans Crisis Line Receives Exemption from Return-to-Office Order

The Veterans Crisis Line (VCL) employees have been granted a complete exemption from the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) mandate to return to office settings. This decision was communicated by the VCL’s Executive Director, Christopher Watson, in an email to staff, expressing gratitude for their dedication and unity in these challenging times.

Staff feedback, shared with Federal News Network, indicates that most of the VCL team operates remotely, and nearby VA centers lack the space to accommodate them. Former President Donald Trump had previously issued a memorandum mandating all remote and teleworking employees to resume office work, which prompted the VA to revoke such arrangements for roughly 20% of its 479,000 employees.

A VA representative previously mentioned to Federal News Network that the department’s intention is to bring back as many employees to office environments as logistically feasible. Recently, the VA withdrew and then reinstated final job offers for multiple VCL hires, due to difficulties in finding adequate office space for them.

One prospective employee received an email from a VA HR official, regrettably retracting their job offer due to canceled remote work capabilities. The email mentioned ongoing efforts by the VCL to secure office spaces for new hires, alongside submitting requests to allow remote work.

Erika Alexander, president of AFGE Local 518, representing up to 1,000 VCL employees, informed Federal News Network that since April 2020, VCL staff in Atlanta have been working remotely, having been set up for telework at the pandemic’s onset before officially becoming remote employees in 2022.

Alexander noted, “Our duty station is our home.” Many VCL personnel live far from VA facilities without access to 24-hour office spaces necessary for fulfilling the crisis line’s mission, with some residing two hours away from the nearest VA healthcare location.