Agencies Pressured on Telecommuting

Agencies covered by the Commerce-Justice-State appropriations bill would have to show that all of their employees who are deemed eligible to telecommute have the option of doing so, under a provision of that bill drafted in the House. The prime sponsor is Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va., who is one of the leading advocates in Congress of allowing federal employees to work from home or from telecommuting centers. Under his language-which may be a precursor to similar language for other agencies-the affected agencies would face budget cuts if they did not make telecommuting available to all eligible employees. In addition to the Commerce, Justice and State Departments, large agencies covered by the bill include the Securities and Exchange Commission and Small Business Administration. Wolf previously sponsored government-wide language requiring agencies to designate positions eligible for telecommuting, but studies show that only small percentages of federal employees telework even part time.