In a Better Place With Telework

Agencies note marked improvements since week-long event last year.

Several federal agencies used this year’s Telework Week event as a way to test their business continuity plans, and many of those plans proved to be in a better place than they were one year ago.

According to figures released Wednesday by Telework Exchange, 71 percent of organizations participating in Telework Week, which ran March 5-9, noted improved continuity of operations as a main benefit of the event, a 19 percent increase over last year. Organizations also saw a decline in challenges encountered during the Telework Week pilot, with only 21 percent reporting issues, down from 32 percent in 2011.

“With new technologies driving the workforce of the future, there’s a greater focus on mobility, and the value it can add to the efficiency of organizations and employees alike,” said Cindy Auten, general manager for Telework Exchange. “Telework adoption is becoming a widespread tool to solve business challenges.”

More than 71,000 workers pledged to work remotely during Telework Week this year, marking an 80 percent increase in pledges over last year’s event. Federal employees represented 94 percent of total Telework Week pledges this year, with federal participation increasing by 97 percent over the 2011 event.

For more on the results of this year’s Telework Week event, click here