IRS agrees to remote work amid Chamblee rat infestation concerns
Chamblee IRS staff film rodents falling from ceiling
Employees at a Chamblee IRS facility will begin working from home tomorrow following intense protests over a severe rat infestation inside their workspace, according to an agency statement.
CHAMBLEE, Ga. - The IRS has implemented an immediate telework policy for employees at the Chamblee campus effective Friday, June 12, allowing staff to work from home while the facility undergoes deep cleaning and remediation.
ORIGINAL STORY: Former Chamblee IRS employee says severe rat problem led to resignation
The announcement comes after union workers led about a dozen protesters in a demonstration outside the facility on Thursday, saying a severe rat infestation has pushed employees to the limit.
Acknowledging the uncomfortable work environment, the IRS and the General Services Administration are partnering with a specialized pest and wildlife control company to significantly increase trapping efforts inside and outside the six-floor building.
IRS transitions staff to remote work
What we know:
Following intense pressure from employees, union leaders and lawmakers, the Internal Revenue Service announced that staff at the Chamblee facility will transition to telework starting Friday, June 12.
The policy shift directly addresses the primary demand of workers who staged a demonstration outside the campus on Thursday. In an official statement, the agency outlined its plan to move staff out of the building while aggressively addressing the rodent problem.
Frustrated employees push back over unsanitary workplace
The backstory:
Conditions at the Chamblee federal campus reportedly deteriorated rapidly following the Memorial Day weekend. Staff members shared images showing what they described as a facility overrun by rodents in recent months.
Denise Gomez, the chapter president in Chamblee, Georgia, said overnight contamination created a dangerous environment for staff.
"Which means that overnight, once these rodents have been running around and using the bathroom all over the place, employees come in and put their personal items on these desks, and they can take whatever virus diseases that these rats are carrying home to their families. So unless the employee is responsible enough to bring in their own wipes and actually clean their workstation themselves, they're at risk of catching anything. And it's just an unfair working environment."
Extermination concerns and workplace complaints
What they're saying:
While agency officials began taking steps to address the problem, employees expressed concern that they were initially expected to remain in the facility while chemical treatments were being conducted. Gomez noted that many workers have specific health vulnerabilities, including veterans and employees on FMLA leave or with workplace accommodations.
The union also stressed that remote work systems have been in place since the COVID-19 pandemic, making management's initial resistance to telework and alleged threats of termination against protesters especially frustrating.
"The numbers are absolutely astonishing that you think that you're going to handle this while we're in the building. It is not realistic," Gomez said.
"There's nothing that's going to impact you financially. It won't impact the work. Just let them work from home. And there's a push back to do that."
The conditions also drew the attention of federal lawmakers. Sens. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, along with Rep. Hank Johnson, sent a joint letter saying they were "appalled and disgusted" by conditions at the facility and called for immediate telework flexibility — a request the IRS has now granted.
IRS releases statement
The IRS released the following statement:
"The Internal Revenue Service is actively addressing the pest issues at the Chamblee facility, and has implemented a telework policy for employees at that location, effective Friday, June 12. The IRS recognizes that this situation creates an uncomfortable work environment for our staff. The IRS, along with GSA, is working to remediate the situation as quickly as possible. In addition to routine pest management, a specialized pest and wildlife control company will be utilized to significantly increase the number and variety of the trapping mechanisms used both inside and outside the building. Also, efforts are underway to improve trash collection and to declutter the building."
What we don't know:
It was not immediately clear how long the employees will be working remotely