Is telework increasing? Who knows?
April 20th, 2012 | Office of Personnel Management | Posted by Stephen Losey
The federal government wants to increase the amount federal employees telework, and even passed a law to make it easier in December 2010.
But finding out whether that’s actually happening is tricky. Because the metrics used to measure telework are continually shifting, it’s probably going to be a few more years before we know whether things are actually improving, according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office.
GAO said that for years, agencies have used different methods to collect telework data, leaving those statistics inconsistent and unreliable. After the 2010 Telework Enhancement Act was passed, the Office of Personnel Management sought to fix that problem by revising its 2011 “data call.” That revision sought to standardize definitions of key terms and reporting methods, added more questions to make the surveys more reliable, and shortened the time frame during which telework participation is measured.
But GAO said those changes mean that the data measured in September and October 2011 will be so different it can’t possibly be compared to prior years’ results.
What’s more, agencies are still increasing their use of automated data collection, GAO said, and OPM might change its survey methods even more before it starts collecting 2012 data. That means the 2011 data might be essentially worthless too, GAO said.
“OPM officials anticipate that telework data will be more reliable next year,” GAO said.
OPM told GAO that it would make it clear in its first mandated report to Congress this June that the 2011 data has its limitations and keep trying to improve data collection, as GAO recommended. But OPM also noted that data collection remains inadequate at the agency level, which it is trying to address through training.
IT professionals give agency telework programs high ratings
April 12th, 2012 | Information Technology | Posted by Nicole Johnson
Most federal information technology professionals are very satisfied with their agencies’ ability to enable telework and support a mobile workforce, according to a survey released last week by Telework Exchange.
The organization, a public private partnership that promotes telework, surveyed 152 Defense and civilian IT professionals about their current telework programs, shortfalls and projections for the future mobile workforce.
Of those surveyed, 65 percent said their agencies offer above average IT programs to support telework, compared with 14 percent of professionals who rated their IT programs below average. Agencies with a “B” rating or below should provide more cloud-based services, expand videoconferencing and establish formal telework plans with employees.
Overall, agencies need to address security challenges to provide employees with a reliable telework program.
Other findings include:
- Improved workforce productivity, employee work-life balance and business continuity are among the top telework drivers.
- 59 percent expect an increase in the number of employees who telework at least two days a week.
- Most employees who telework have to cover all or some of their Internet, phone and printing supply costs.
- 54 percent said their agency is working to reduce mobile device costs, in response to a November executive order.
Tags: cloud computing, mobile device, mobile technology, telework, Telework Exchange
OPM declares 11 am delayed opening for DC; freezing rain on the way
January 22nd, 2012 | Office of Personnel Management | Posted by Stephen Losey
The Washington area is expected to get hit by freezing rain this evening, and it’s going to mean a late start for federal employees Monday. The Office of Personnel Management this evening sent out a notice that said the government will open at 11 a.m. tomorrow, and told feds to stay off the roads until 9 a.m. Feds will be granted an excused absence for their delayed arrival tomorrow.
OPM is also giving feds the option to use unscheduled leave or unscheduled telework — but if you choose to telework, you have to start working at your normal time.
Emergency employees will have to show up on time, unless directed otherwise.
UPDATE 8 PM: The National Weather Service forecasts tonight’s freezing rain will result in accumulations of “a trace to less than a tenth of an inch.” NWS expects “light icing on roadways and elevated surfaces will make traveling hazardous,” not to mention slippery sidewalks. So it doesn’t sound like the end of the world, but we all know how these slippery roads can lead to trouble if drivers don’t use caution.
Some federal buildings closed after 5.9-magnitude earthquake, OPM grants excused absence, telework
August 24th, 2011 | OPM | Posted by Nicole Johnson
UPDATED 9:55 a.m.: More than a dozen federal buildings in the Washington area, including the Interior Department’s headquarters on C Street, are closed today following the 5.9- magnitude earthquake that rocked the east coast Tuesday afternoon.
“Emergency employees are expected to report for work on time,” regardless of their building being closed, according to an update posted on the Office of Personnel Management’s website, which includes a list of all building closures as of 1:50 a.m. (A list of building closures is also included below).
Employees working at buildings that are open will have the option of unscheduled leave and unscheduled telework, OPM said.
Here are guidelines for non-emergency employees if your building is closed:
- Non-emergency employees (including employees on pre-approved paid leave) will be granted excused absence (administrative leave) for the number of hours they were scheduled to work, unless–
- The employee is required to telework by his or her agency’s official policy as reflected in his or her written telework agreement;
- The employee works or is on official travel outside of the Washington, DC area;
- The employee is on leave without pay (LWOP); or
- The employee is on an alternative work schedule (AWS) day off.
OPM has directed workers to check with their supervisors and on agency websites to see if their building has been opened and for further guidance.
Building closures:
- U.S. DRUG ADMINISTRATION
- FOREST SERVICE, USDA YATES BUILDING
WASHINGTON, DC
- FOREST SERVICE, USDA YATES BUILDING
- INDEPENDENT US GOVERNMENT OFFICES
- NATIONAL BUILDING MUSEUM
5TH & F STREETS, NW
WASHINGTON, DC
- NATIONAL BUILDING MUSEUM
- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
- AGRICULTURE SOUTH
14TH & INDEPENDENCE AVE SW
WASHINGTON, DC
- AGRICULTURE SOUTH
- DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
- NEBRASKA AVENUE COMPLEX
BLDG 1
WASHINGTON, DC - NEBRASKA AVENUE COMPLEX
BLDG 19
WASHINGTON, DC
- NEBRASKA AVENUE COMPLEX
- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR HQ
1849 C. ST, NW
WASHINGTON, DC - DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR SOUTH
1951 CONSTITUTION AVE, NW
WASHINGTON, DC
- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR HQ
VIRGINIA
- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
- BUILDING A, 6810
FRANCONIA, VA
- BUILDING A, 6810
MARYLAND
- OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
- ONE WHITE FLINT NORTH
11555 ROCKVILLE PIKE
BETHESDA, MD
- ONE WHITE FLINT NORTH
- ARCHIVES
- WASH NAT RECORDS CT
4205 SUITLAND RD
SUITLAND, MD
- WASH NAT RECORDS CT
- DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
- HUBERT HUMPHREY BLDG
200 INDEPENDENCE AVE
WASHINGTON, DC
- HUBERT HUMPHREY BLDG
- DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
- FRANCES PERKINS BLDG
200 CONSTITUTION AVE NW
WASHINGTON, DC
- FRANCES PERKINS BLDG
- NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS
- POST OFFICE OLD
1100 PENNSYLVANIA AVE, NW
WASHINGTON, DC
- POST OFFICE OLD
- DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
- 8401 MUIRKIRK RD
LAUREL, MD
- 8401 MUIRKIRK RD
Tags: earthquake, telework
OMB sets IT purchasing guidelines for telework
April 28th, 2011 | OMB Uncategorized | Posted by Nicole Johnson
Federal executives have until the end of July to develop or revise information technology procurement policies that support their agencies’ telework needs, according to memo released Thursday.
When crafting these policies, agencies must account for security risks and ensure that all devices and infrastructure meet federal security and privacy standards, said Office of Management and Budget Director Jack Lew in the memo.
The memo directs chief information and acquisition officers to take advantage of governmentwide and agencywide contracts. Agency technology should provide remote access to internal resources and include the use of thin clients, where most of the computing is done on a protected server rather than a hard drive.
By June 7, agencies must determine which employees are authorized to telework, notify all employees of their eligibility and establish a policy for those who are authorized to telework. OMB will issue a more detailed memo by the June deadline.
Tags: Information Technology, Office of Management and Budget, telework
OPM’s telework data more than a year old
February 17th, 2011 | Office of Personnel Management | Posted by Stephen Losey
The Office of Personnel Management has never been known for its speed, but even its telework reports are sluggish these days.
OPM new telework report contains statistics for calendar year 2009, without a hint of how the government did in 2010. This means the report — on an issue that is one of Director John Berry’s top priorities — is full of 14-month-old data. It’s already stale, right out of the box.
And don’t hold your breath waiting for 2010 numbers. OPM’s press release today concluded by saying, “In the fall of 2011, OPM will issue a data call to collect information on the 2010 telework statistics.” The release doesn’t say why OPM plans to wait nine or ten months to even start asking agencies for their telework stats. I asked OPM why it takes so long, and will update this entry when I hear back from them.
I thought OPM was pushing it when the report on 2008 data was released in September 2009. But this 14-month lag time means we’re probably not going to have any real sense of how the 2010 telework bill is working until 2014.
(Here’s what I mean by that: The bill’s provisions will start taking effect in mid-2011, when all employees must be told whether they’re telework-eligible or not. But it will probably take some time to get telework arrangements set up and running smoothly, so the back end of 2011 will likely be a wash. Which means the real work will start in 2012, if we’re lucky. So if OPM continues at this rate, they’ll start asking for 2012 stats in fall of 2013, and we’ll get that crucial first post-Telework Enhancement Act report in early 2014.)
With so much attention — some of it highly skeptical — being focused on teleworking, why can’t the government do more to promptly report this data? If compiling even basic information like how many people are teleworking is a challenge, how will the administration find data that convinces skeptics that teleworking actually improves agency performance?
UPDATE: I just got a copy of the complete telework report, which includes the data call OPM put out in early 2010. They set a March 11, 2010 deadline for agencies to submit data for this report, and it evidently took them 11 months to process and compile that data. If that’s the case, and OPM doesn’t ask for the next round of data until this fall, does that mean that 2012 will almost be over before we see 2010 data?
Tags: telework
Survey finds most federal execs surpass IT security requirements
January 4th, 2011 | Uncategorized | Posted by Nicole Johnson
Most federal executives exceed agency security requirements when using laptops and other devices inside the office but are less likely to do so while teleworking, according to a study released Tuesday by the Government Business Council.
The survey of 232 executives, mostly in operations, found that 88 percent lock their computer screens when they’re away, and 77 percent only use secure network connections when at work. Outside the office, only 52 percent said they used these security measures.
Overall, 97 percent said their agencies require at least a password or some form of authentication when accessing work on an agency-issued or personal device. This includes a user-chosen password or a strong password.
Other findings include:
- Of the feds who telework, 80 percent are not concerned about theft or damage of their agency devices.
- 31 percent of executives who telework said insufficient technology is the main obstacle to working outside the office. A preference for face-to-face interaction is also a major factor.
- 86 percent of teleworkers think security measures prevent them from accessing information at least some of the time.
- 23 percent strongly agree that their agency should not improve IT security.
Tags: CDW Government survey, Information Technology, telework
Federal Times on the air: Incomplete pensions and telework
November 23rd, 2010 | Office of Personnel Management | Posted by Stephen Losey
In case you missed it last night, here’s my interview with Capital Insider. I discussed the Office of Personnel Management’s problems getting federal retirees their complete annuities, and how they’re trying to make things right.
And while we’re at it, Cindy Auten from the Telework Exchange was also a guest on the show. Hear her talk about the new telework bill and what it’s going to mean for feds.
Capital Insider airs each at weeknight at 8 p.m. in the Washington area on cable channel 8, TBD TV. I appear on the show once a month to discuss the latest in federal news.
Tags: Capital Insider, on the air, pension, telework
The new telework bill: What do you think?
November 22nd, 2010 | Workplace | Posted by Stephen Losey
There’s a lot of new requirements in the telework bill Congress passed last week. Agencies will have to:
- Establish a telework policy and notify employees of their eligibility to telework within six months,
- Require teleworkers and their managers sign agreements outlining their responsibilities,
- Set up an interactive training program for employees and managers,
- Incorporate telework into their continuity of operations plans,
- Designate a Telework Managing Officer, and
- Report on their telework progress.
But will these provisions actually have an effect on the amount of teleworking that goes on in the federal government? We’d like to find out what you think. What logjams do you see that restrict teleworking opportunities, and will the bill address those? Or does the bill not tackle the real problems limiting telework?
E-mail me at slosey@federaltimes.com. If you’d like to talk anonymously, that’s fine.
Tags: telework, what do you think?
OPM downgrades snow losses, but do estimates hold water?
March 24th, 2010 | Office of Personnel Management | Posted by Stephen Losey
Office of Personnel Management Director John Berry yesterday officially downgraded the government’s estimates of its per-day losses during last month’s snowstorms. Instead of losing $102 million per day, Berry now says the government only lost $71 million per day. But there is reason to take those calculations with a grain of salt.
Berry first threw out the $102 million daily loss estimate during a December press conference on snow closure procedures. That was a rough, back-of-the-envelope calculation of the total daily payroll for all 270,000 federal employees in the Washington area, and assumed total losses in productivity.
That estimate was clearly too high. The government didn’t entirely shut down, even if the empty streets made it appear so. Emergency workers still had to show up – the National Weather Service, for example, rose to the occasion and worked around the clock. And there were some telework success stories at places like DISA and the Patent and Trademark Office.
However, quantifying the actual success of telework is much trickier.
Tags: fuzzy math, John Berry, Snow, snowmageddon, telework