“Management resistance, outdated cultural norms, and technology limitations” are the main hindrances to wider use of telework in the federal workplace, OPM has said, repeating findings of prior similar reports while adding that some progress toward addressing those issues is being made.
“Agencies reported increases in the use of every measured telework promotion strategy, including incorporating telework into continuity of operations planning, aligning telework with agency missions and strategic goals, and using agency-wide meetings and messages to promote telework,” it said in its annual report on telework.
But to overcome the remaining barriers, “agencies must approach their programs systematically as strategic change management initiatives. Goal-setting, evaluation, and improved telework tracking methods are critical components of such an approach. OPM is committed to supporting agencies in these efforts,” it said.
Further, telework participation varies significantly among subcomponents of agencies, with some showing a range from zero to nearly 100 percent, which OPM said also could reflect management attitudes differing by component, among other factors.
