Telework Improvements Act of 2010 Would Reduce Commuting by Government Employees
The Telework Improvements Act would allow U.S. government employees to telecommute one day a week.
May 12, 2010
The Telework Improvements Act was debated in the U.S. House of Representatives last week. If passed, it would put statutory teeth behind a telecommuting policy already in place.
The bill, H.R. 1722, was first introduced more than a year ago. It would allow eligible employees to work from a remote location at least 20 percent of the time. The concept is often termed "telecommuting" or "teleworking."
To "allow" telework is not the same as to "require" it, and easy to circumvent if managers are uncomfortable with workers being out of direct oversight. The bill would mandate more training for managers on supervising teleworkers, and create employee grievance procedures.
Measures in the bill would ensure that teleworkers are not discriminated against in employee performance appraisals and other opportunities. Each agency would need to name a telework managing officer responsible for implementing the bill's requirements.
From an environmental perspective, telecommuting decreases dependence on foreign oil, reduces traffic congestion, leads to better air quality, improves recruitment and retention, and provides a strategy for getting mission-critical work done during emergencies.
Continuity of operations (what the private sector calls "business continuity") is an important benefit of having a strong telecommuting infrastructure. An amendment would require telework and flexible scheduling to be part of emergency plans.
* Avaya is a client of P5 Group, which is the Publisher of Energy Priorities Magazine.
