Agencies stand to lose money over telework eligibility
A number of federal entities stand to lose as much as $5 million each if they do not certify that their workers are eligible for teleworking, but the government has not clearly defined "certification" other than to ask agencies to sign a document stating that they have made the option of teleworking available to all employees.
The Office of Personnel Management is using the document to compile an annual survey of agencies' progress on the matter.
A provision in the House appropriations bill for fiscal 2005 for the Commerce, Justice and State departments and other agencies said they must certify that they have made telework an option for their employees by 2004.
"At this point, the language (especially the term 'certification') has not been defined operationally to either the [General Services Administration] or the OPM," wrote Wendell Joice, the government's telework team leader.
COMMENTS
- Five Million dollars per agency. Chump change. OF course that will not motivate any agency head. Now if it, say, limited SES awards and bonuses to a maximum of say $100.00 per person per year if an effective telework system is not set up, then it may motivate. Or say take the $5 million out of every budget which is over $20 million, then you might get attention. But $5M? Naw, each agency will spend far more than that on the inauguration. GovExec.com reader Posted August 24, 2004 2:32 PM
- I work for a service and we never have been asked about telecommuting. When we asked for flexible work hours we were told no because that would require the managers to know when we were going to be here. Pretty lame. If we telecommuted the managers would not have anyone to look at and therefore nothing to do. After considerable consideration, I think the managers should telecommute - all my work activity is via e-mail from an office ten feet away! tax payer Posted August 19, 2004 6:31 AM
