Are Highway Department Employees essential in light of the 50% reduction of staff due to COVID-19?

Yes, highway departments and their employees, like police and home health aides, are considered essential and are not included in the 50% reduction of municipal work force. When a town, village, city, or county is trying to determine the 50% work force, highway field personnel and the highway official should not be included in the calculations.

That being said, everyone should stay safe and most agencies are splitting shifts to reduce the spread of COVID-19. More details are available in the CLRP Tech Tip Highway Departments & COVID-19.

Resources:

• Tech Tip – Highway Departments & COVID-19 (pdf)
• Governor Cuomo Executive Order Number 202.4 Work-From-Home & Workplace Density Reductions
  https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/amid-ongoing-covid-19-pandemic-governor-cuomo-announces-nys-pause-functions-extended-next-two
• GUIDANCE ON THE ESSENTIAL CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE WORKFORCE
  https://www.cisa.gov/publication/guidance-essential-critical-infrastructure-workforce

April, 20'