Issue Briefs

Following is the summary of a recent report from GAO finding that management resistance continues to be the major barrier to allowing more federal employees to telework.


The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) partially reported on two of the seven reporting requirements of the Telework Enhancement Act of 2010, but did not report agency information for the five remaining requirements. This was because insufficient time had elapsed for all requirements of the act to be fully implemented and because agencies appeared to face challenges in measuring outcomes for some nonparticipation goals, according to OPM.

OPM recognizes weaknesses in agency sources for telework participation and frequency data, but has not taken adequate steps to establish a completion date by which agencies will produce reliable data from employee time and attendance tracking systems, which OPM defines as the most reliable tracking method.

The small agency discussion group reported telework challenges similar to those expressed by officials from larger agencies. These challenges include management resistance and technology limitations. In addition, officials from small agencies expressed particular concerns about office impacts when a teleworking employee has no backup in the workplace and about the limited funding available for information technology to support telework.

Why GAO Did This Study

The Telework Enhancement Act of 2010 requires OPM to submit an annual report to Congress addressing the telework program of each executive agency. The act also required GAO to review OPM’s first report and submit a report to Congress on the progress each executive agency has made towards the goals established under the act.

To conduct this work, GAO reviewed OPM’s reporting requirements in the act, OPM’s 2012 report to Congress, and related documentation. GAO also interviewed OPM officials responsible for overseeing the report and held a discussion group with a random sample of members of the Small Agency Human Resources Council.

What GAO Recommends

GAO recommends that OPM (1) in preparation for the 2014 telework report should provide goal setting assistance for agencies not yet able to report telework goals, including agencies which intend to establish non-participation goals but are not yet able to report on these goals. OPM should request in its data call that each of these agencies report by what year the agency will be able to report its goals, including each agency’s timetable for complete reporting and the status of action steps and milestones they established to gauge progress; (2) include in its 2014 report to Congress the amount of cost savings resulting from the impacts of telework each agency may have identified, and the method the agency used to assess or verify the savings; and (3) improve the reliability of data collection by working with the Chief Human Capital Officers Council and its leadership to develop documented agreements and a timetable to complete an automated tracking system or other reliable data gathering method that can be validated by OPM.

In summary, OPM partially concurred with our first recommendation, concurred with our second recommendation, and stated it has completed our third recommendation.

Recommendations for Executive Action

Recommendation: In preparation for the 2014 telework report, OPM should provide goal setting assistance for agencies not yet able to report telework goals, including agencies which intend to establish nonparticipation goals but are not yet able to report on these goals. OPM should request in its data call that each of these agencies report by what year the agency will be able to report its goals, including each agency’s timetable for complete reporting and the status of action steps and milestones they established to gauge progress.

Agency Affected: Office of Personnel Management

Status: Review Pending

Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Recommendation: OPM should include in its 2014 report to Congress the amount of cost savings resulting from the impacts of telework each agency may have identified, and the method the agency used to assess or verify the savings.

Agency Affected: Office of Personnel Management

Status: Review Pending

Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Recommendation: To improve the reliability of data collection, OPM should work with the Chief Human Capital Officers (CHCO) Council and its leadership to develop documented agreements and a timetable to complete an automated tracking system or other reliable data gathering method that can be validated by OPM.

Agency Affected: Office of Personnel Management

Status: Review Pending

Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.