People

White House seeks reopening plans from agencies

Guidance sent to agencies on Tuesday makes clear that agencies can't start phasing feds back into the workplace until they've satisfied collective bargaining requirements.

Ideas

Demystifying Access Control and Zero Trust

As agencies rethink making temporary remote arrangements permanent, officials should start with proven ubiquitous encryption technology.

Ideas

COVID-19 Compressed Government’s Digital Transformation Initiatives. Now What? 

With telework here to stay, federal agencies are investing energy and resources into long-term IT infrastructure solutions rather than quick fixes.

Acquisition

DOD oversight report tracks pandemic spending

A recent inspector general report looks at contractors who received COVID-19 reimbursement under a $1 billion allocation in the CARES Act

Cybersecurity

Connecting and supporting the post-pandemic workforce

After a year of emergency response, IT leaders are planning for a permanently changed operating environment.

People

CDC mask guidelines and the federal workforce

The White House-led Safer Federal Workforce Task Force is incorporating recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updates on COVID protocols into their guidance for agencies looking to accommodate vaccinated workers.

Ideas

Employees Are Feeling Burned Over Broken Work-from-Home Promises and Corporate Culture ‘BS’ as Employers Try to Bring Them Back to the Office

We found a disconnect between workers and management that starts with but goes beyond the issue of the remote-work policy itself.

Artificial Intelligence

NASA’s Modern Missions Lean on Emerging Tech 

The agency’s CDO reflected on how AI, machine learning and automation are being increasingly operationalized.

People

GOP rep wants feds back in the office

Rep. Jody Hice, the top Republican on the House Subcommittee on Government Operations, says that recent CDC guidance on masks, vaccination and social distancing means that it's time for the federal government to move away from the emergency pandemic footing.

Digital Government

Federal Employees Sing Telework’s Praises, Want to Continue After the Pandemic

Survey results show those who have been doing their jobs remotely are happier and feel they are just as productive. 

Ideas

To Future-Proof the American Economy, We Need 5 Million Digital Jobs in 5 Years

The challenge isn’t having enough workers to fill these roles: It’s that available workers aren’t trained in these high-demand areas.

Digital Government

Feds’ Engagement and Job Satisfaction Rises Despite—or Because of—Pandemic

Officials who administered the annual Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey warned against making sweeping conclusions about the 2020 results, due to changes in the survey's timing and some of its content.

People

Union touts productivity gains from telework

Feds overwhelmingly want to keep the ability to telework additional days each week, according to the results of a survey released by the National Treasury Employees Union.

Ideas

COVID-19 Nomads Heed Pandemic Call of the Road

As some affluent, mobile professionals decamped from cities, states are dialing up the competition to attract them permanently.

Ideas

The Importance of Leadership Communication in a Telework Environment

Senior leaders have a responsibility to foster trust and cohesion among staff. That requires a deliberate approach.

Ideas

What Will Life Look Like After Most People Get the Vaccine?

Experts expect changes to health care systems, businesses, and educational and cultural institutions

Ideas

What Inspired Digital Nomads to Flee America’s Big Cities May Spur Legions of Remote Workers to Do the Same

Even before the pandemic, there were people asking whether office life jibed with their aspirations.

Cybersecurity

Survey Suggests Public Sector Slightly Better than Industry at Prioritizing Mobile Security    

A majority of respondents said they sacrificed security of IoT devices to respond to COVID-19 policies and for expedience generally.

Modernization

DOD Workforce Wants to Keep Telework Going Despite Early Hiccups

A Defense Department Inspector General report surveyed more than 56,000 employees about telework during the pandemic.