OPM has issued a memo calling attention to work-life balance initiatives in the federal workplace in conjunction with October being National Work and Family Month.
“This year, OPM’s analysis of the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey results identified work-life as a key driver of employee engagement. Managers who support employees’ professional and personal success unleash employee productivity, engagement, and satisfaction,” it says. “OPM is committed to helping agencies strategically develop and improve work-life programs through consultation, guidance, trainings, and tools.”
It highlighted efforts including: training on leave, work-life, telework and other workplace flexibilities for managers and employees; guidance on using telework to mitigate commuting disruptions and health risks and to assist employees affected by emergency situations; the available coverage under FEHB for preventive services; regular opportunities for agency work-life coordinators to share best practices; and an ongoing series of webinars on issues including telework and dependent care back-up programs.
In a separate memo, OPM said that agency telework managing officers and telework coordinators who have been designated as the points of contact for the annual telework data call will be notified shortly via email and will be provided individual passwords to enter their data into a web-based form. OPM said it will use the data as well as feedback from agencies and other stakeholders in telework policy decisions.
The survey will once again include questions related to cost savings, along with data on participation rates, examples of best practices and other information that it puts into an annual report on telework.
