Guidance Sent on Work Flexibilities

OPM has sent guidance following up a June White House memo encouraging agencies to inform employees of the various workplace flexibilities that are available for work-life balance purposes and to make the most use of them possible within the law and agency mission needs. OPM told agencies that programs such as health and wellness programs, employee assistance programs, leave policy flexibilities and telework, “are critical management, recruitment, and retention tools.” Further, the White House memo requires agencies to assess whether their work-life balance programs are being used effectively identify barriers preventing wider use—management resistance is the most commonly cited hindrance to fuller use of telework, for example—and to recommend improvements where needed.