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Agencies gradually embrace telework

More than half of agencies reporting their statistics had an increase in total number of teleworkers

The number of federal employees who telework is increasing, with 5.24 percent of all federal employees working away from their offices in 2008, according to a new report.

The total number of teleworkers increased from 94,643 in 2007 to 102,900 in 2008, and 48 of the 78 agencies that reported their telework statistics say they have more people teleworking than a year ago, according to the Office of Personnel Management report titled, “Status of Telework in the Federal Government.”

“The report indicates a steady, albeit very slow progress, in telework,” John Berry, OPM director, wrote in the report.

Berry is setting up an advisory group of experts to develop telework policies for agencies. “We have significant work ahead to develop a strong telework culture,” he added.

The Defense Department had the greatest number of employees teleworking. DOD had 16,871 teleworkers in 2008, down from 17,921 in 2007. Among the smallest agencies, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office had the most people teleworking, allowing 4,395 employees to work from home. Last year, 3,612 of USPTO's employees worked from home, according to the report.

Of the 102,900 teleworkers, 64 percent of them work from home at least one to two days a week or three or more days per week, the report states.

Berry wrote that telework has many important implications. For instance, working from home can stave off possible pandemics of influenza and allow operations to continue in case of an emergency. However, OPM also found nearly half of the 78 agencies haven’t fully integrated telework into their continuity of operations plans.

Agencies also told OPM that working from home helps their employees. The greatest benefit was to employees’ morale. Their productivity and transportation were the other highest benefits.

One of the greatest barriers though was a resistance from management, agencies reported to OPM. To overcome that resistance, 42 agencies said they are offering training for managers.

About the Author

Matthew Weigelt is acquisition editor for Federal Computer Week.

Reader comments

Tue, Sep 22, 2009 Alexandria

The Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has constantly played with the numbers to overstate how many employees telework. Only in the last year, were the legal instrument examiners and the information technology (IT) staff allowed to telework. Although authorized by USPTO to telework up to three days per week, these employees are only allowed by management to telework one day per week. If they have to come in for a meeting on their telework day, they aren’t allowed to switch telework to an alternate day. This is ironic for the IT staff, since they implement the telework technology for everyone else.

Tue, Sep 22, 2009

I do not work for an agency and telework all the time. My wife on the other hand works for a governmental TLA... It took almost a year and several go arounds with both the union (who seemed resistant) and the management (who seemed resistant). Finally after a year of fighting for it, she can telecommute one day a week. If the planets align right. That's in a position that would actually be extremely effective as a 3-4 day a week telecomuting position. The old school management style must be brought current.

Tue, Sep 22, 2009 oracle2world

Actually if you count the travel junkies, the numbers are much higher. Around here, if a meeting doesn't involve travel of some sort, it doesn't count. Which is why all the teleconferencing stuff never catches on ... people don't travel to meet, they meet in order to travel. But thank god for the travel junkies, if they were around more often they might really cause problems.

Mon, Sep 21, 2009 WPAFB

For the productivity and stress improvement reasons already described (lack of interruptions and disruptions; PEACE AND QUIET vs. the noise of working in a warehouse-warren of cubicles) I would love to telework part of the time. But every time I have asked, the response I have received has been either deafening silence, or strident refusal. Far too many so-called managers are too insecure to open their eyes and ears to the benefits and let it happen.

Mon, Sep 21, 2009 FL Panhandle

5 yrs ago our software implementation team was permitted to work from home as a result of hurricane Ivan. Productivity was at its highest level and we achieved being ahead of our delivery schedule. Upon returning to our offices on base we were back to 'business as usual'.

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