The House on Thursday passed final legislation that will expand telework opportunities in the federal government. The bill now goes to the White House for President Obama's signature.
The Telework Enhancement Act (H.R. 1722) would modernize the federal government by expanding and improving the availability of teleworking in federal agencies. It would make federal employees presumptively eligible to telework and would require all agencies to establish telework policies in consultation with the Office of Personnel Management. The legislation also would require agencies to designate a telework managing officer and ensure telework is part of continuity of operations planning.
The bill also directs OPM and the Government Accountability Office to evaluate and report on agency telework programs, and requires the Office of Management and Budget to issue guidelines on security protections for telework.
"In a time when the federal government is under pressure to cut spending and work more efficiently, we are confident that this legislation will not only save the government money, but will promote increased productivity in the federal workforce," said Max Stier, president of the Partnership for Public Service.
As IT workers, how might the new telework legislation change the nature of your job? And how might it improve the recruitment and retention of IT workers across government, particularly younger workers who often demand more flexibility in the workplace?
Brittany Ballenstedt
Brittany Ballenstedt writes Nextgov's Wired Workplace blog, which delves into the issues facing employees who work in the federal information technology sector. Before joining Nextgov, Brittany covered federal pay and benefits issues as a staff correspondent for Government Executive and served as an associate editor for National Journal's Technology Daily. She holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Mansfield University and originally hails from Pennsylvania. She currently lives near Travis Air Force Base, Calif., where her husband is stationed.
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