A Seat at the Telework Table

Seven federal labor unions sent a letter to Office of Personnel Management Director John Berry on Nov. 10, requesting a seat at the table as the government develops new policies that would expand federal telework opportunities.

In April, Berry announced a five-point plan that aimed to increase use of telework at federal agencies. The plan includes the creation of an advisory group of telework program managers and directs agencies to submit telework policies for review.

The unions urged OPM to ensure that all federal employees and their unions be made fully aware of what teleworking options are available, and make resources available to federal managers to ensure that all are fully educated and trained on telework policies. The unions also advised that federal managers be encouraged to negotiate telework procedures with unions, and that employees eligible to telework receive training on how to maximize their productivity. The groups also requested that IT procurement policies dovetail with the goal of increasing the number of teleworkers.

"Creating and implementing a successful telework program would obviously require the involvement of the unions representing federal workers," the letter said. "We can provide unique insights into identifying employees that are best suited for telework."