People

Will telework gain traction after record snowfalls?

The heavy snows of the past week should put a greater commitment to telework on the government’s front burner, to judge from the comments posted to our coverage. But many seem to fear that entrenched opposition will cause any push toward telework to fade as quickly as the snow.

People

OPM's Berry discusses telework during government shutdowns

OPM Director John Berry fielded questions about telework during an online chat session today and said he was optimistic that the blizzard experience would drive home to agency leaders the importance of making telework possible.

Modernization

Government re-opens while feds talk telework in aftermath of blizzard

Now that severe weather in the nation's capital and elsewhere have provided ample opportunities for testing continuity-of-operations plans, federal employees have some thoughts.

People

Responsibility to telework?

One reader finds out that just because employees can telework doesn't mean they really will.

People

Teleworkers get the job done with a BlackBerry and car charger

It's a worst-case scenario for teleworkers — being caught in a blizzard with no electricity — but they find a lifeline in the form of their smart phone and a car charger.

Digital Government

There's no panic like snow panic

Trudy Walsh blogs about Washington's penchant for panicking at the sight of snow—but concedes that the panic may be appropriate for the blizzard of 2010.

Modernization

Feds brace for another storm

Another massive snowstorm threatens the Washington metropolitan area, overwhelms OPM's Web site, closes the federal government and sparks telework complaints.

People

Overheard on Twitter

Traffic and shopping aren't the only things that have ground to a standstill during Washington's blizzard of 2010. Add the federal Office of Personnel Management Web site to the list.

People

Feds stay connected in aftermath of 2010 blizzard

Many federal employees say they are continuing to work even though they can't get into the office.

People

In defense of teleworking

Blogger John Klossner writes that federal managers' worries about telework should be overcome by the fact that teleworkers are highly motivated professionals who don't take snow days, work through lunch and maximize the hour(s) they save each day by not commuting.

People

December snowstorm highlighted policy disconnect

FCW readers say agencies have no excuse for not making it easier for employees to work from home.

People

D.C. snow day could be telework learning experience

The unexpected closure of federal offices in Washington D.C. today could be a day for learning the ins and outs of successful teleworking, suggests the director of a teleworking group.

People

New study finds feds less prepared to work remotely than industry counterparts

Sixty percent of feds wouldn't be prepared to work remotely if their offices couldn't open, according to the results of a survey of IT executives released today.

People

Information Age requires new breed of federal supervisors

The next generation of federal supervisors will have to demonstrate a different set of competencies—namely, the ability to manage independent, knowledge-based, internally motivated workers as well as greater supervisory flexibilities improved communication.

People

Unions want say in telework policymaking

A half-dozen unions have offered Office of Personnel Management Director John Berry a hand in developing policies that would ratchet up the numbers of teleworking feds.

People

Get a Life: Telework resistance in agencies at odds with benefits

Blogger Judy Welles notes that a recent survey showed a significant drop in the number of feds eligible to telework, even though agencies cite positive returns.

People

At a glance

More employees are working away from the office, according to a recent OPM report.

Modernization

Telework speeds security-clearance process

At-home investigators at the Office of Personnel Management helped to reduce the security clearance backlog, John Berry, OPM director, said today.

People

Agencies gradually embrace telework

The overall number of teleworkers federal increased from 94,643 in 2007 to 102,900 in 2008, a report says.

Modernization

DISA will use telework to retain displaced employees

The Defense Systems Information Agency will use teleworking to retain employees as it relocates to Fort Meade, Md.