Federal Managers Association
In the News
- A New Era of Telework Should be the Beginning of a More Flexible Federal Workforce. - April 10, 2020
- In the federal government, fewer than half of employees are authorized to telework, despite a requirement for agencies to incorporate telework into their continuity of operations plans.Shawn Skelly, Government ExecutiveAmid the COVID-19 pandemic, many employers have had to revisit their teleworking policies. Americans today—especially younger workers—have become accustomed to flexible workplaces where remote work is viewed not as a low-priority perk, but as an imperative that improves productivity and supports a high-performing, resilient organization. They expect to work hard but also to have the option to vary their work schedules and locations to accommodate family and personal obligations. And they are used to having the necessary tools available to do their jobs from day one—not waiting weeks for a computer or to get needed software applications.In the federal government, however, fewer than half of employees are authorized to telework, despite a longstanding requirement for agencies to incorporate telework into their continuity of operations (COOP) plans. The mechanisms the government has in place to facilitate telework are being tested and strained in the current coronavirus pandemic.To read the full article, please click here.