Telework Exchange

U.S. Representative Jim Moran (D-VA), currently serving his 10th term and a member of the House Appropriations Committee, is a co-sponsor of the Telework Improvements Act of 2009. Rep. Moran recently spoke with The Teleworker about the state of telework in the Federal government and what needs to be done to increase adoption.

Q: Have you become familiar with a specific telework program or Federal agency telecommuting initiative that you consider particularly useful in serving as a model to encourage broader telework adoption across the Federal workforce? If so, what makes this case or program significant in your view?

A: I have been impressed with former Governor Tim Kaine's innovative Telework!VA initiative. Administered by the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation, the program provides telework support to private businesses and nonprofits in the Commonwealth.

Telework!VA is a prime example of the capacity of government to spur innovation and change in the economy. I believe such programs are critical to addressing legitimate technical and managerial concerns about the viability of telework in public and private enterprises. Telework programs cannot succeed without laying the proper groundwork – this goes beyond establishing secure intranets or broadband connections. Virginia's focus on training managers and teleworkers is a particularly important component in the larger effort.

Q: Given that many of the current telework guidelines have been on the books for years, do you believe additional legislative mandates are needed to expand remote workforce opportunities, or more agency and/or administrative policies to make measurable progress in this area?

A: I am a co-sponsor of the Telework Improvements Act (H.R. 1722), which requires each executive agency to establish a policy under which employees may be authorized to telework to the maximum extent possible without diminishing employee performance or agency operations. H.R. 1722 also requires agencies to provide for teleworker training and directs the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to prescribe regulations and provide agencies with teleworking assistance and guidelines. There is, however, substantial room for Federal agencies to increase telework participation and efficiency in the absence of legislative action. In 2008, 8.67 percent of the eligible Federal workforce were reported as teleworkers, an increase of 8.72 percent over the previous year. Still, there is room for growth. A number of agencies, notably OPM and the General Services Administration (GSA), have taken important steps to foster telework. The Telework.gov Web site is a symbol of their ongoing commitment to government-wide telework initiatives.

Q: On August 3, 2009, Virginia held a successful statewide Telework Day. What role do you believe state and local governments need to play in building more public awareness of and business support for telework nationwide?

A: State and local governments have the potential to become prime movers in the expansion of telework into areas outside the Washington, D.C. region. For example, in Virginia, former Governor Tim Kaine was a strong supporter of telework. He introduced a statewide Telework Day and the Telework!VA program and spearheaded the inception of the Office of Telework Promotion and Broadband Assistance.

Q: In your opinion, what known telework benefit currently resonates more strongly among legislators and with the Obama Administration: the environmental benefits associated with telework or its capacity to support government business continuity in the event of a flu pandemic, inclement weather, or another terrorist attack?

A: Those are both compelling arguments that resonate, perhaps to different degrees, across the Federal government. However, I would actually like to highlight a benefit that you have not mentioned. In high-congestion areas such as the Northern Virginia district that I represent, traffic is, if anything, becoming a greater problem. As Federal, state, and local government budgets are stretched during these tough economic times, fewer resources are available to address the congestion problem, and in turn, more creativity on the part of local business and government is needed. I believe that telework can be part of a comprehensive strategy to reduce the congestion on Northern Virginia highways.

It may also bring socioeconomic benefits. Teleworking can provide much needed flexibility for working parents, can improve work-life balance, and allow families to spend more time together.