The House has approved legislation to require all executive agencies to develop programs that allow employees to telework at least 20 percent of the hours worked in every two administrative workweeks.
Sponsored by the chair of the House federal workforce committee, Danny Davis, D-Ill., the telework improvements act of 2007 would require agencies to ensure that the opportunity to telework is made available to the maximum extent possible without diminishing employee performance or agency operations.
HR-4106 would also require agency heads to train teleworkers and ensure no distinction is made between teleworkers and non-teleworkers in performance appraisals, and require agencies to dedicate a telework managing officer, among other provisions.
A similar bill, S-1000, already passed the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in November.
A provision requiring the involvement of a senior-level manager is designed to help alleviate resistance to telework from front-line managers who fear a loss of control in situations where employees are working offsite.
As part of its ongoing push to drive a wider adoption of telework, OPM recently rebuilt telework.gov, resulting in a user friendly and effective site for employees to get started teleworking of for others to understand their role and in the process.
