OPM Urges Telework, Alternative Schedules

OPM has sent a memo to agencies urging them to use various personnel flexibilities to help their employees cope with high gasoline prices, saying that telework will reduce fuel consumption and traffic congestion. Only about 7 percent of federal employees currently work from home or from teleworking centers even part-time, despite years of urging by OPM, GSA and some in Congress. OPM also urged agencies to make use of alternatives to face-to-face meetings such as videoconferencing and email exchanges, and reminded them of the authorities for alternative work schedules including compressed schedules that for many participating employees eliminate one day of commuting every two weeks. Federal employee unions meanwhile have urged the government to raise the federal employee mileage reimbursement rate from 50.5 cents per mile to 58.5 to reflect a recent change in IRS deductibility rules, although that reimbursement applies only to official travel using personal vehicles, and not to commuting.