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Return to Article: Agencies urged to step up telework efforts

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  If OPM can't get agencies to telework, or get affordable health benefit plans for civ servants, why not just abolish OPM? Seriously, what good is OPM, anyway? If Bush hates big government, why not send a signal by scrapping this bureaucratic behemoth? OPM's budget could be transferred to DHS (but not to TSA, who would just give it away in bonuses to "high-performing" managers).

  King of Flunkies

  GovExec.com reader Posted October 19, 2004 3:02 AM
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  In large metropolitan areas teleworking makes sense for a variety of reasons. As a new federal employee in DC I was surprised to learn that no one at my division telecommutes becuase management "frowns upon" it. My previous private sector employer encouraged telecommuting because of increased productivity, traffic congestion and continuity of work should we find ourselves out of our office due to a natural disaster. Telecommuting was also a major portion of the disaster plan required by major lenders and clients. I applaud the efforts of the congressmen and women who are trying to move the federal workplace into this century.

  GovExec.com reader Posted October 15, 2004 7:03 PM
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  You would think from the articles and comments that the Federal Government was trying to invent something that has never been done - teleworking. In fact, I know several people who telework. My daughter-in-law, for example, works for a large private company and telecomutes daily. She goes to where she has meetings when necessary and in some cases travels for work but as a general rule works out of her home. It is successful, she has done this for at least 4 years that I can remember. If it was so awful or if she was not productive, this would have ended long ago. It can be done, folks - management just needs to get off its dead butt and do it instead of making excuses. I, for one, am sick of the commute. When caught in traffic, I get into the office and am so stressed it takes a while to get into gear to start the day. Going into my home office, turning on the computer and beginning work would be so much more productive - and I wouldn't have the interruption of listening to someone in the next cubicle playing back their voice mail messages and conference calls at top volume. I know I could get more done faster - but that's not the government way then, is it?

  GovExec.com reader Posted October 15, 2004 4:35 PM
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  To Mrs Banner's comments about Mr Layman's staement about motivation of federal Employees: "Only way to motivate federal employees is to threaten their budget". She seems to be accusing him of a dig at rank and file employees. Please re-read this. I think it is fairly obvious he is NOT referring to rank and file employees, (the foot soldiers), but to managers, from first line all the way up to agency heads, (the officers) as it is clear to many rank and file employees that managers are the ones holding this back. They don't trust their employees when out of sight.

  GovExec.com reader Posted October 15, 2004 1:06 PM
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  "Federal Workers" need to be threatened to accept telework? Who is Michael Layman kidding? My husband was in one of the original telework projects back in the 80s and even though it was successful from beginning to end, it was canceled because the managers didn't like it. They "couldn't be sure the employees on the project were actually working" as they put it. I guess all the work coming to them for the project was created by magic.

  GovExec.com reader Posted October 15, 2004 11:08 AM
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  Best paraphrased, the position at Picatinny Arsenal is:

  We encourage you to work at home. You can bring your laptop home to do work. But you cannot work on the clock.

  GovExec.com reader Posted October 15, 2004 8:54 AM
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  Mr. Layman's comments regarding the motivation of federal workers is a slap in the face to every dedicated and hard working federal worker. How can he be considered someone who can positively and constructively represent the federal workforce? I would add that he might take into consideration that teleworking such as he has in mind might be useful and work well in metropolitan areas but in more rural areas, such as Kansas, it is not really necessary.

  Betty Banner Posted October 15, 2004 8:39 AM
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  Telework is not going to happen. The management cannot measure employee output and has no goals or measures of merit concerning employee output. Teleworking requires more than a computer - it also requires a telephone! The government should provide both the computer, fast internet connection and a telephone for people to work at home. Also, telecomuting in most cases will not be five days a week. I think I could do three at home and two in office. This would not save space but may reduce the commute by two days (a very marginal saving for me because I still would have to pay monthly parking fees (unless government provides parking for telecommuting employees when they are required in the office). Another potential problem with telecommuting is the scheduling of meetings - management would have to hold meetings on days the telecommuters were in the office. This requires management to plan and they do not like doing that. Currently they can do anything they want and often schedule a meeting only a few hours before it is to start. I also have had meetings on the spot. This is not possible with telecommuting. There is no incentive for management to allow telecommuting.

  Finally, cutting the budget will not encourage telecommuting the managers will simply reduce output and whine about the budget cuts.

  tax payer Posted October 15, 2004 7:59 AM
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  Teleworking may be cutting pollution and if that is the goal no matter what other costs then it's justifiable. However, this system is abused by some and the abuse is harder to track or prove. Managers need to really crack down on those who abuse it rather than closing their eyes because of the mandate to allow telecommuting or it will negatively affect morale.

  GovExec.com reader Posted October 15, 2004 7:24 AM