Special Reports
The Telework Imperative
Interest in telework continues to run high among federal employees. More than a third of federal workers have been given the option to work away from the office at least part of the time, and 45 percent of workers say their managers view telework favorably, according to a recent study. But many issues remain to be worked out, and new ones continue to crop up in the evolving world of telecommuting. This regularly updated special report will keep you up to speed on the latest news and trends.
RECENT NEWS STORIES
- Locality adjustments fail to erase salary gap, critics say (06/27/08)
Union leaders and federal executives call for changes to pay calculations. - From Nextgov.com: GSA signs telework agreement with union (06/09/08)
AFGE officials agree to provisions that abruptly ended telework talks with another federal union. - Storms test GSA's continuity plans (06/06/08)
Power outage at Northern Virginia facility allows agency to launch notification system and telework arrangements. - Telework negotiations break down between union and GSA (06/06/08)
Dispute over disciplinary provision and elimination of employee reimbursements ends in stalemate. - House passes bill encouraging telework (06/04/08)
Bill would require agency heads to allow qualified employees to work outside the office at least 20 percent of their hours in a two-week period. - OPM calls for end to pension penalty for rehired retirees (05/21/08)
Union and lawmakers express concerns that new hiring authorities could be subject to abuse. - Doan: 'I lost the battle' (05/05/08)
Former GSA administrator discusses why she was forced out and what she would have done differently. - Agencies urged to pitch job flexibilities to attract applicants of all ages (05/01/08)
Research shows government is ahead of the curve on alternative work schedules, but doesn't get the word out. - Former GSA chief says she was ousted because of inspector general feud (04/30/08)
Plus, from Nextgov.com: Doan's resignation not seen as hindering GSA's IT business - White House forces resignation of embattled GSA chief (04/30/08)
Lurita Doan was summoned to the White House for a late afternoon meeting Tuesday, and resigned that evening. - Agencies plan to increase spending on telework technologies, study says (04/25/08)
With bigger budgets, advocacy group advises IT managers to track return on investments. - Panelists: Telework can improve management (04/22/08)
Talented employees will produce whether they're working at home or in the office, officials say. - IT security concerns slow telework adoption (04/03/08)
Private sector moves ahead of federal government in security measures and technical support. - Study: agencies should capitalize on strengths to attract mid-level hires (03/27/08)
New employees in upper ranks view their agencies more favorably than their previous employers. - Telework pace picks up at National Science Foundation (03/17/08)
More employees and managers favor working remotely, agency survey says. - Feds need more respect, better benefits, says congressman (03/07/08)
Maryland Democrat tells union members that federal workforce is at the forefront of change in policy, labor. - Telework measure clears workforce subcommittee (02/29/08)
Bill requires that all agencies create telework polices and develop programs to train managers and employees to take advantage of teleworking opportunities. - Subcommittee grills PTO director on patent backlog, morale (02/28/08)
By late 2007, more than 760,000 applications were waiting to be reviewed; hiring restrictions have left agency understaffed. - Employees in the dark on telework policies (02/21/08)
New study says one of out three federal employees is ignorant of their agency's telework policy. - Pay reforms said to need scrutiny, care-taking (02/13/08)
Pay-for-performance systems susceptible to bias and money woes, witnesses tell House panel.
