GSA and AFGE sign telework agreement

The General Services Administration and the American Federation of Government Employees have agreed on a national policy that could greatly expand the use of telework by eligible GSA employees. The new GSA policy authorizes a range of telework schedules from one day per week to full-time.The policy lets employees combine telework with alternative work schedules, subject to management approval, GSA leaders said. In cases where working at home is not the best fit, employees can choose to work from a telework center.When GSA launched a major telework initiative last year, the agency's goal for 2010 was to have 50 percent of eligible employees teleworking one or more days a week. GSA officials said they are eight months early for meeting the 2008 goal of having 20 percent of the agency’s eligible workforce teleworking one or more days a week.“Telework reduces energy use, cuts down on greenhouse gases, eases traffic and helps persuade talented individuals to build long careers in public service,” said David Bibb, GSA's acting administrator.