Green Information Technology Strategic Plan - Departmental ...

46
BUSInESS CASE
Telework
The Federal Government continues to focus strongly on
telework and on various issues to enhance its viability. As
Agencies move forward with recruiting a workforce that will
be flexible, adaptable, and able to meet the challenges of
the 21st century, our ability to offer cutting-edge workplace
technologies, along with supports for work-life balance, will
help the government attract needed talent. Additionally,
emergency planning, particularly for longer term scenarios,
requires a core workforce comfortable with remote access.
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) can be
used as a benchmark for best practices in the Federal
Government for an effective telework program. GAO
instituted an Agency-wide telework program in 1995, and
today, more than 75% of its employees take advantage of
the program. Employees are able to apply to the program
online, and once approved, teleworkers can securely access
the GAO network remotely to carry out their work. GAO
tested the strength of its Agency-wide program in October
2001 when 435 members of the House of Representatives
and their key staff were unexpectedly moved into the GAO
building in Washington, D.C.; due to an anthrax incident
affecting House offices. Several hundred GAO employees
were asked to telework temporarily and were able to quickly
and effectively carry out the critical work of the Agency.
Further, in an effort to monitor the impact of telework on
overall operations, GAO conducts a bi-annual survey of
top management, supervisors, and staff, which captures 45
different key metrics, including benefit, quality of work/
life, and importance to employees. In the most recent
survey, GAO found that 88 percent of the staff believe the
program increases work productivity, 93 percent believe
it helps with work/life balance, and 94 percent intend to
reapply to participate in the program in future years. The
results show that management and staff agree the program
is valuable to the Agency as it increases productivity, fosters
better time management, and acts as an important recruiting
and retention tool.
In the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) 2007 report
to Congress, the following benefits were reported: improved
morale was the top choice (25 Agencies). Human capital
(21), transportation (20), productivity (20) and leave (20)
were also chosen as important benefits.
Clearly, if USDA would implement and mandate that all
Agencies offer telework for all 74,413 employees already
deemed eligible for telework, the Department would be
a government leader in the President’s goal of reducing
gasoline usage by 20 percent in 10 years.
Green Information Technology Strategic Plan