by Shaw, Bransford & Roth, P.C.
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This past week on FEDtalk® radio show, Debra Roth and Kate Fulton hosted a discussion about the status of teleworking in the federal government. Bernice Steinhardt, Director of Strategic Issues at the Government Accountability Office, spoke about the results of GAO's research about teleworking programs government-wide and her recommendations to Congress about how to improve agency telework programs. Cindy Auten, General Manager of the Telework Exchange, a public-private partnership to promote telework, discussed the benefits of teleworking and strategies to expand telework programs. At the outset of the show, Steinhardt detailed recent GAO studies finding that structure and consistency were missing from most agency telework programs. To enhance telework programs, Steinhardt recommended that agencies apply a "business case analysis" to telework programs, setting measurable goals and implementing tracking systems for participations. Steinhardt emphasized that implementation of these suggestions would allow agencies to better foresee and correct any problems with their telework program. Steinhardt cautioned managers against viewing telework programs as merely a "perk" for employees and to recognize its value in making the federal workforce more efficient.
Auten echoed Steinhardt's concerns about a limited view of telework. She shared examples, which can be found on the Telework Exchange website, of agencies in which telework has enhanced employee morale, expanded the ability to recruit and retain a talented workforce and reduced the impact of commuting on the environment. Auten explained that in order for teleworking programs to flourish, managers will need to change their perception that work must take place in a central office.
At the end of the show, both guests discussed the benefit of a strong telework program to Continuity of Operations Programs ("COOP") during a national emergency. Notably, the more experience that agencies have with employees working remotely, the easier it will be to implement COOP programs. Specifically, the strategies for safeguarding electronic data secure in the telework environment will be crucial in the event that workers are unable to travel to the central office in order to do their jobs.
To join the Telework Exchange and access the resources available to federal employees who currently telework, or who are interested in exploring telework, visit the Telework Exchange website. To hear more about the discussion, go to Federal News Radio at the Business of Government section and listen to the show in its entirety.
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