Meanwhile, OPM has again revised its policy on dismissing federal employees due to severe weather or other emergencies, a policy that technically governs only the Washington, D.C. area but that as a practical matter is applied nationwide.
OPM in late 2010 added unscheduled telework to the traditional unscheduled leave option in certain situations.
In its most recent guidance, OPM said it is "aware that many agencies are having difficulties in implementing their unscheduled telework policies and they are concerned with how to properly integrate this new concept into their weather procedures. OPM understands that it will take time to migrate towards incorporating unscheduled telework into their emergency policies, and we strongly encourage agencies to allow as many employees as possible to telework when unscheduled telework is announced. OPM plans to work with agencies to better understand their concerns and lessons learned during this year’s snow season. We will consider revisions to our guidance, as needed, to improve our policies while striving to ensure the safety of federal employees and maintain continuity of government operations."
OPM emphasized that when an agency office is closing early, employees have the option to request unscheduled leave or unscheduled telework if they wish to leave prior to their designated early departure times. It also changed its terminology to recognize that employees begin their work day at different times, as a result of the various work schedules.
OPM further said that it will no longer require agencies to report on use of telework in closings, focusing instead on long-term data collection through its Enterprise Human Resources Integration system.
The guidance is here: http://www.chcoc.gov/Transmittals/TransmittalDetails.aspx?TransmittalID=3559
GSA meanwhile has announced that it is closing or turning over to other operators all but a few of the dozen or so telework centers it has operated in the Washington, D.C. suburbs for about a decade. Officials characterized the decision as a result of improved technology that allows more teleworkers to work from home rather than from a telework center, but cost and usage rates also were factors. GSA said that fewer than 300 employees of various agencies used them, which worked out to a cost to the government of about $10,000 per employee, many of whom worked out of a center only sporadically.
