Virtual Office Resource

Assessing federal telework progress against the Telework Enhancement Act of 2010 requirements, Telework Exchange, a public-private partnership focused on demonstrating the tangible value of telework, has published the results of the “Federal Telework Progress Report: Making the Grade?”

The report finds that telework participation is on the rise, but there are challenges to be faced. The top telework challenges are capturing data and managing program metrics (49 percent), management support (46 percent), and technology support (38 percent), says the report.

Federal agencies have some ground to cover on updating their policies for purchasing telework-enabling technology set forth by the Office of Management and Budget. To meet the agency’s July deadline, some 70 percent will still need to update their policies.

“Federal agencies are continuing to keep their finger on the telework pulse,” says Cindy Auten, general manager, Telework Exchange. “We see that the majority of agencies fundamentally understand 'why telework'. As agencies' programs continue to grow, we encourage leaders to leverage telework as a tool to meet agency requirements, including reducing real estate investments, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, maintaining a productive workforce, and/or recruiting a new generation of valued workers.”

To establish a telework policy (86 percent), determine the eligibility for all employees of the agency to participate in telework (84 percent), and notify all agency employees of their eligibility to telework (76 percent), the majority of TMOs say they will meet the June 7 deadline, according to the report. Most of the agencies surveyed already have training programs in place.

Recently, the company hosted the complimentary Telework in a Box event, an event served as an open forum to discuss best practices in telework management and technology. The event series was sponsored by Adobe (News - Alert) and held in Colorado on May 18.