* Results contradict OPM claim that “nearly all” agencies have a telework policy
FedNews Online – a daily e-mail newsletter for federal employees produced by solutions provider FPMI Solutions – recently released the results of a survey about telework.
First the caveats. The newsletter and its surveys are open to anyone, not just federal employees. The organization disclaims the results from 700 respondents as “unscientific and anonymous.”
Even so, the results are interesting – and discouraging. When asked whether their agency currently has a telework policy in place, only 55% said Yes, 29% said No, 16% were unsure.
Yet, according to OPM’s annual report on telework, “virtually all” agencies have policies in place (see editorial link below).
When respondents from agencies with policies were asked whether their manager had offered them telework, only 23% said yes; 69% said no; 8% checked “other.”
When respondents from agencies without telework polices were asked what it would take to create one, 26% said more pressure from OPM and GSA; 59% said penalization; 4% said more funding; 1% said if unable to recruit and retain employees; 1% said “loss of agency productivity”; and 9% chose “other.”
When asked if there is confusion in their agencies about who is telework-eligible, 52% said Yes; 26% said No; 22% were unsure if they were confused (which sounds like a “yes” to me.)
When asked whether they would telework if offered the chance, 79% of respondents said Yes; 9% said No, 12% said they already did.
The article also published several comments from respondents, including:
* “There is lots of confusion in our agency as to who can and can’t telecommute. It seems many managers are not comfortable with employees telecommuting because they will lose control of productivity and/or employee.”
* “Most supervisors believe if they cannot see their workers, then the workers would not be working. An old mindset we contend with. Just getting flex time took great effort, and it would be stopped if they could.”
When I sent the survey to a source at the GSA who prefers to remain anonymous, her comment was: “Unofficially, I am not at all surprised by the results. But the official position is that no new laws, mandates or penalties are needed.”
Yet, she added, “There is a lot of excitement and anticipation among telework advocates that agency appropriations bills might contain financial penalties for non-compliance with the law. But most all the appropriations are in limbo right now. At this point, anything could be written into – and written out of – the bills.”
The “law” she refers to is Public Law 106-346, § 359, enacted Oct. 23, 2000.
