Federal Telework Use Increases

A report released last week by the Office of Personnel Management shows that less than 6 percent of federal workers took advantage of telework options in 2009, just one year before President Obama signed legislation to expand telework opportunities across government.

The report found that 5.72 percent of the federal workforce teleworked in 2009, an increase of more than 11,000 workers from the previous year. Of federal employees who are eligible to telework, 10.4 percent did so in 2009, OPM found.

For the first time, the report includes data based on both agencies and employees reporting directly through the Employee Viewpoint Survey, which tracks federal employee satisfaction.

The report came as more than 39,000 workers pledged to work at home last week to highlight the benefits of teleworking. The Telework Exchange and Cisco are expected to release a comprehensive report in March detailing the total impact of the Telework Week initiative on commuting costs nationwide.

In December, President Obama signed legislation that requires agencies to improve their use of telework as a strategic management tool. By this spring, agencies must designate a telework managing officer, establish a policy on working outside the office, identify employees eligible to telework and inform them of the option.

Meanwhile, Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Va., introduced a bill last week that would provide tax breaks of up to $1,000 to cover expenses incurred by employees who telework at least 75 days per year.

Will these figures change dramatically in 2011, particularly given the requirements of the new law? Or do some agencies still have a long way to go in changing managers' attitudes toward telework?