The committee also passed legislation calling on agencies to determine which federal employees are eligible for telework.
Introduced by Sens. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, and Mary Landrieu, D-La., the Telework Enhancement Act of 2007 calls on agency heads, the chief justice, speaker of the House and Senate majority leader to establish a policy under which federal employees may participate in telework to the maximum extent possible without diminishing performance or organizational operations.
Certain employees would be exempt, including those whose duties involve the daily handling of secure materials, necessary contact with special equipment, or a daily physical presence, those assigned to national security or intelligence functions, or whose functions are otherwise inappropriate for teleworking and which are designated as functions to which the policy does not apply.
It would also require agencies to designate one full-time employee as a telework managing officer responsible for implementing the agency’s telework policy.
The TMO would also serve as a liaison between employees and managers, develop accountability and productivity criteria, and keep employees informed about their eligibility.
The bill would mandate telework training for new employees and managers as well as require a discussion of telework feasibility in employee reviews.
It also calls on the comptroller general to establish a system for evaluating telework policies and participation as well as publish an annual report rating each entity’s policy and participation.
"The far-reaching benefits of telework affect not only employees and employers, but also national security and the sustainability of our environment," said Sen. Stevens.
"This bill has the dual benefit of saving the energy used in traveling to work and allowing American families to spend more time together," Sen. Landrieu said.
A similar bill has been introduced in the House following a hearing before its federal workforce subcommittee. That bill, introduced by subcommittee chair Danny Davis, D-Ill., would require agencies to establish a policy under which employees may be authorized to telework at least 20 percent of the hours in each two-week period.
HR-4106, like the Senate bill would push agencies to adopt telework in continuity of operations planning, something telework advocates frequently say is critical.