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Working from home remains a fantasy for the majority of federal workers, and is realized by only a few employees in independent positions that allow them to remain outside the office for days at a time, yet remain productive.

Due to a commitment by senior management and the enthusiasm of employees, some agencies are seeing telework spread to an increasing percentage of the federal workforce.

At the Defense Logistics Agency, the military's source for supplies, a growing number of the agency's 22,000 employees are realizing the benefits of telework.

According to Laurie Hall, DLA's telework program coordinator, 6,717 civilian employees, or 31 percent of the agency's civilian population, have been identified as telework-eligible, as of March 2005.

When the program began in November 2002, 1,947 employees were approved to work away from the office after an orientation phase that ended in March 2003; by March 2005, 1,072 were actively telecommuting. Hall considers the program a success because many of the agency's employees work in warehouses and distribution centers and need to be on the job sites.

A 2004 survey of DLA workers found that while more than three-fourths wanted to telework more often to save money and reduce commuting time, managers were worried that telework affected productivity. They were also concerned that the quality of technology at workers' homes was not as high as at the office.

Hall credits the growth of telework at DLA to the emphasis agency leaders have placed on telework. She said DLA's director, Vice Adm. Keith Lippert, is a vocal advocate of the program and sees it as a way of increasing productivity and worker satisfaction, while meeting recruitment and retention objectives.

"If we just take telework and throw it off, we're not going to be competitive and we're not going to have the quality of people we have today," Lippert said.

Another smaller government organization that has had success with telecommuting is the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, with 35 percent of its 950 employees working away from the office at least two days a week. More than 90 percent of the agency's employees currently participate in the telework program, which was started in 2001.

COMMENTS

• What is the Department of Defense doing to implement telework for civilian employees? As a management analyst for Dept of Army, I fight traffic twice a day everyday just to sit in front of a computer and a telephone. I have that at home! With so much emphasis on saving dollars for the war, sustainability, taking care of the environment, why hasn't the Dept of Army taken a closer and more serious look at telework for those positions that qualify? Over six months ago I moved into a new office where someone decided we needed new office cubicles, which actually look the same as the ones that were already here. What a waste of funds! Had I teleworked, I wouldn't need any of this furniture. Another person in the agency is contemplating early retirement due to health issues. If telework were implemented the Army could keep the institutional knowledge and expertise of this valuable employee! The civilian personnel office has absolutely no clue what telework is. Their guidance was to stop talking about telework because the Dept of Army hadn't put out their policy yet.....goes to show how little the civilian personnel office really knows. That is scary! GovExec.com reader Posted July 5, 2005 7:05 AM
• Is this a joke? I work for DLA and in my activity, only about 5% of the jobs are considered "eligible" for telework. It's a joke. I have counterparts who work what they call "flexiplace", which is the same as telework, except they do it EVERYDAY. Usually that is due to medical reasons, but I don't understand why they can get the technology necessary, but I can't for even one day a week! I don't know where those figures come from. Maybe headquarters. But not at my filed activity. Or any of my counterparts. GovExec.com reader Posted May 6, 2005 11:04 AM
• I telework 2 days per week and find that my supervisor is very supportive of the program. I know that some offices have restrictions regarding which days of the week are allowed but I'm not subjected to that, thank goodness. I don't believe that restricting which days you may telework fully supports the program so I'm fortunate. It's really a matter of how well you can support your mission from your alternate worksite and if you do your job effectively. The quiet atmosphere is great for those of us who do analysis, reporting, and tons of e-mail, etc. I'm glad we have the opportunity. GovExec.com reader Posted April 21, 2005 9:50 AM