Thousands signing up for Telework Week

In an effort to demonstrate that telework's value outweighs any downside, the Telework Exchange is inviting federal agencies, organizations and individuals to partake in Telework Week, a nationwide telework effort during the week of Feb.14-18.

According to the organization's website, as of late Wednesday, 5,483 people had pledged to take part. The site offers a tally of the number of pledges, the estimated savings for their organizations and the tonnage of pollutants they won't be generating in commuting. 

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Telework Week comes only a couple months after the president signed the Telework Enhancement Act into law.

The new law requires agencies to develop telework policies and expand the number of employees eligible to telework. Agencies have 180 days to establish the policies, determine eligibility and notify all workers about their eligibility for telework. Some agency managers resist telework, for reasons such as the security of data or the diligence of employees when not under a manager's watchful eye.

In addition to setting new policies, the new law requires agencies to appoint a telework managing officer, who must be a senior official with direct access to an agency head. The law also establishes interactive training programs for teleworkers and telework mangers and includes telework in business continuity plans.

The Office of Personnel Management last month announced a new telework policy for federal workers who are unable to commute to work due to severe weather or other emergencies. Under the policy, all federal employees with telework agreements will be eligible to participate in an “unscheduled telework” option when they can’t make it to the office.