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Return to Article: Managers remain hesitant about telework

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  Here is another case of the government being a day late and a dollar short. Civilian enterprize has already determined that in most cases telework is inefficient and have greatly reduced their numbers of teleworkers. Government has to realize that only a small percentage of employees are trustworthy enough, and have the "self-starting" abilities requred for efficient telework job performance. It can work with the right employees, but not the majority.

  GovExec.com reader Posted January 30, 2007 11:39 AM
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  I fully support teleworking and have found it to be very successful if managers do their homework. Prepare a formal agreement as to what days, what times, and what is to be accomplished, availability for phone calls and/or email, potential for being called into the office if needed, and the right to terminate the agreement if needed, and follow-up on it.

  I had a previous employee who telecomuted two days a week for a total of 16 work hours. There was never any question of whether she was working during those times or not. I have no doubt that I not only got those 16 hours in productive work but many more in addition.

  I have found that many managers don't trust their employees to work when not in the office where they can be watched. I wonder if it's because they (the managers) can't be trusted to do their jobs if they aren't being watched and assume their employees are the same?

  GovExec.com reader Posted January 29, 2007 9:39 AM
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  Telework is an issue that has been on the table for years now. It has managers scared to death. What happens when some federal employee can prove that their management has little to do with getting the work done? In some cases, telework may prove beyond a doubt that some bosses cause more harm than good.

  Telework weakens the chains of bureaucracy that shields managers from accountability. The more a manager resists telework, the more likely it is that they should receive some outside attention to determine if they are trying to conceal something.

  Robert M. Posted January 29, 2007 7:57 AM
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  The problem is very simple. Managers of government workers cannot and will not establish objective measures of work that employees need to be held accountable for and report on continually. Government managers do not manage or supervise employees! Managers want employees on hand eight hours a day (more if the employee will allow it) so that there is someone there to do something in case it arises! They answer the mail, so to speak! You are not paid to think you are paid to do and you only are paid to do what the manager wants done each day. However, the manager cannot tell you what needs to be done until the request comes.

  Most government employees are firefighters and have to be where the fire starts to be considered necessary and useful. In government you do two things - you respond to requests (no matter how stupid) immediately and you solve problems that arise. If you perform your job so that problems do not arise you are considered useless! Only those that solve problems are useful! Brother, in the private sector we rewarded employees that prevented problems and punished those that allowed problems to arise. In government I have to develop processes that result in problems so I can solve them and be considered great. However, if I did the job correctly in the first place there would be no problems to solve!

  taxpayer Posted January 26, 2007 7:14 AM
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  In other words, if the supervisor can't see you, s/he can't supervise you. Managers don't need to see their employees to know they're doing their job.

  Michelle Posted January 24, 2007 10:42 AM
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  "A lack of face-to-face contact with workers was rated as the top communications challenge for managers in offices using the alternate arrangement. More than 60 percent of respondents said they have misinterpreted their workers by e-mail, and 43 percent have misinterpreted employees over the phone, the study revealed."

  What an amusing quote for putting down telework. In the federal offices today people call and e-mail even if they are working 20 feet away from each other, so what is the difference. These miscommunications occur with or without telework.

  HR Specialist

  GovExec.com reader Posted January 24, 2007 10:33 AM
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  Telework is a favoritism type of deal. Most of our executives telework. A lot of managers do it and virtually no rank and file workers. This miscommunication/misinterpretation of workers is a sham as well. What you have is a bunch of insecure, incompetent federal managers who are control freaks who will not embrace new technology.

  GovExec.com reader Posted January 24, 2007 9:40 AM