OPM director John Berry’s plan to further drive the adoption of telework in the federal government includes managerial training to wear down managerial resistance, commonly cited as a hurdle to wider adoption of alternative working arrangements.
Managerial training is just one of several provisions stemming from legislation that underlies Berry’s plan: HR-1722, the Telework Improvements Act of 2009, introduced by Rep. John Sarbanes, D-Md., and S-707, the Telework Enhancement Act of 2009, introduced by Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii.
The plan also would convene an advisory group of telework program managers to draw on their knowledge and expertise in formulating standards for telework policies, as well as encourage each agency to establish the position of telework managing officer, who would ensure telework policies are applied fairly and supported by agency managers.
"I was raised in the D.C. metropolitan area, so I know a little something about the traffic congestion that frustrates commuters and saps them of energy even before they get to the office," said Berry, adding, "With a sensible approach to creating model telework programs, thousands more employees will work from home one or two days each week on a regular basis – and thousands fewer will be on the road."
Currently 5 percent of the federal workforce teleworks. OPM’s plan would also direct agencies to submit telework policies for review against a set of standards crafted by the advisory group, encourage agencies to establish an effective and transparent appeals process for denied requests, and ensure good, accessible training to remove managerial resistance to having staff work off site and to ensure managers and employees alike are trained and prepared to use telework successfully.
