By: Assistant to the President for Workers’ Compensation Kevin Card
Over the past two months, the world as we know it has changed. While most Americans have been sheltering in place, a grateful nation watches as letter carriers keep us connected by delivering mail, medicine and parcels. I am continually amazed at the dedication and persistence of letter carriers in these extraordinary times.
The costs borne by essential workers like hospital workers, grocery clerks and letter carriers have been enormous. The coronavirus has not spared anyone, including letter carriers. As I write this, around 800 letter carriers have test-ed positive for the virus and many more may be infected without knowing it. Fourteen letter carriers have died from the virus.
Businesses have been lobbying Congress to grant them sweeping immunity from civil liability for failure to adequately protect workers and customers from infection. Fortunately, letter carriers suffering from COVID-19 contracted at work are protected by the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA).
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