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The fuel disruptions and price increases caused by Hurricane Katrina prompted this warning from President Bush: "Don't buy gas if you don't need it." But apparently workers in the Washington area still need it. The region is expecting one of the busiest traffic ever on Tuesday -- another sign that telecommuting still has not taken firm root within the federal government.

The day after Labor Day is known as "terrible traffic Tuesday" in Washington because of commuters returning to the area after the August congressional recess and students returning to school after the summer break. Some 1.8 million vehicles are expected on the roads, according to Lon Anderson, a spokesman for the AAA's mid-Atlantic region. Local commuters also will face gas prices nearing $4 per gallon.

To help offset the rising gas prices, the federal Office of Personnel Management has renewed efforts to promote telecommuting options for federal employees. On Friday, OPM issued a memorandum to push telework, carpooling and other fuel-consumption alternatives after Bush's admonition for nationwide energy conservation.

"Telework presents agencies with significant opportunities to reduce fuel consumption and traffic congestion," OPM Director Linda Springer wrote to department and agency heads, urging them to use new technologies by letting employees work from home or telework centers closer to home.

In response, the General Services Administration (GSA) has expanded access to 14 telework centers in the Washington area. GSA is offering free use of the facilities to all federal employees through the end of the year. The centers are outfitted with computers, high-speed Internet access, telephones, printers and other resources.

"Maybe it will show managers that telecommuting works," said Dan Scandling, a spokesman in the office of Rep. Frank Wolf, a Virginia Republican and longtime advocate of telework.

Wolf included in pending spending legislation for fiscal 2006 language that would require the Justice, State and Commerce departments to offer telework options to employees or lose $5 million in funding. He successfully included similar language in a fiscal 2005 spending law.

Efforts to boost telework adoption have been marginal in the past, according to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and industry surveys. In 2004, 22 of the 23 surveyed federal agencies had telework policies, GAO found. But only 19 percent of federal workers were telecommuting by May 2005, according to a study by CDW-G, a company that advises and sells computer and network systems to the government.

"The tools are in place" for the government to offer telework options, said Chuck Wilsker, president and co-founder of the Telework Coalition. The coalition is urging all workers to telecommute two days per week.

"Regardless of the increase in gas prices, more federal employees should be encouraged and allowed to telecommute," Scandling said.

The business sector has more readily adopted a top-down approach to telework, Wilsker added. But he said, "I don't know how long it will take to pay $50 or more to fill a gas tank" before more workers in both the private and public sectors begin looking at telework.

COMMENTS

• I still don't get it. Where is the environmental advantage to having people drive to telecommuting centers, versus driving to the office? Reducing driving by 10-20 miles is not effective. Eliminating driving is effective. The most serious impediment to working from home/home office is security. Who will pay the bill for bullet-proofing the home computer? Who will pay for the tech support (remote or on-site) required to ensure that the home/home office computer is adequately maintained and secured? Fact is, telecommuting presumes a benign techno environment - which does not exist. Telecommuting is a great idea for a galaxy long, long ago. GovExec.com reader Posted November 14, 2005 8:57 AM
• This is a very popular and positive idea for employees in S. Fla. where the average commute is 30 to 50 miles one way !! Of course it will never be allowed in CBP; first because it makes sense and more important; because the "majority" of CBP are uniformed personnel and if they can't have it; no one can. There are hundreds of "support" personnel who could telework and not only save gas, traffic congenstion and pollution, but also tax dollars in the outrageous rent costs. I guess when you work for a Department with so much money they can't even account for it; a few more million here and there is no big thing. GovExec.com reader Posted September 13, 2005 7:31 AM
• Telework would be very desirable, especially with the high gas prices that are here to stay. Our organization does not encourage it. Occasionally people are permitted to use it for a day here and there. For those so fortunate to have telework opportunities, I would like to hear how you report to your supervisor when telecommuting. Are you required to provide details of your daily activities? Do you do anything different reporting wise other than what you do in the regular brick and mortar office? Thank you. GovExec.com reader Posted September 7, 2005 6:37 AM