In December, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) submitted its annual “Status of Telework in the Federal Government Report to Congress,” based on data covering Fiscal Year 2022. It is the tenth such report OPM has submitted since passage of the Telework Enhancement Act of 2010.

The key findings reflecting current trends detailed in the report include:

• Total telework participation has slightly decreased from FY 2021

• Telework eligibility among federal workers continues to grow; Participation among eligible employees fell significantly

• Total telework goal achievement remains high; New trends emerge in identification of telework outcome goals set by agencies

• Ability to assess cost-savings has changed as agencies meet emerging areas of cost savings

OPM Director Kiran Ahuja notes the report, “reflects a time period in which the vast majority of agencies began the year operating under maximum telework posture. While some agencies took initial steps to increase their in-person posture over the course of FY22 the data underlying this report continues to primarily reflect a pandemic-driven posture with reduced in-office presence by teleworkers.” She references the April 2023 declaration ending the COVID-19 national emergency and the need for agencies to “balance in-person and virtual work to maximize mission delivery.”

You can access the full report here.

The Telework Enhancement Act of 2010 requires OPM to report annually on the extent of telework

participation and utilization across the federal government. It marks the most recent major legislation related to telework in the federal workforce. However, Senator James Lankford (R-OK), ranking member of the Senate Government Operations Subcommittee, and Subcommittee Chair Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), are seeking even more data via the Telework Reform Act (S. 3015), introduced in October 2023. Their bill aims to improve recruitment and retention to remote work positions and promotes the management, accountability, and transparency of federal telework. FMA believes data is critical when making decisions related to telework, and S. 3015 would help provide that. Specifically, the bill would:

• Enhance the training and monitoring, policy and support, accountability, and reporting with respect to remote work and telework.

• Direct agencies to identify potential value from increasing remote and other telework opportunities, determine which job classifications could benefit from being performed through telework, and the expected cost savings and productivity outcomes resulting from the increased use of remote work and telework.

• Promote the hiring of veterans, spouses of service members, spouses of federal law enforcement officers, and certain individuals who have proven to be high-performing federal employees.

To follow the progress of S. 3015, click here.