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In an effort to respond with timely information to a pressing legislative requirement, CDW-G commissioned two studies regarding telework compliance within the Federal government in 2005. The two research studies, conducted in January and March 2005, determined the state of teleworking in the Federal government, and identified reasons for some agencies’ non-compliance. The first study was timed for release one month before agencies were required to report to Congress on their telework efforts, and the second report was timed for release two months after the reporting deadline.
The second annual CDW-G Federal Telework Report provides another benchmark for the state of teleworking in the Federal government, and represents CDW-G’s ongoing efforts to identify the barriers to broader telework adoption.
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Telework is the ability to work remotely from locations that are outside of an office or routine workstation. Teleworking generally requires a mobile computing device such as a laptop, with secure network connections that enable authorized users to access vital information systems.
The Federal telework legislation, Public Law (PL) 106-346, was a personnel and policy requirement that had gone virtually unnoticed by Federal government agencies since its inception in October 2000. The law required 25 percent of the eligible Federal workforce to be able to telework to the maximum extent possible within six months of enactment. It also required the expansion of Federal telework eligibility by 25 percent each year, so that 100 percent of the Federal workforce would be eligible by September 30, 2004.
In response to the poor traction on telework efforts, PL 108-447, the Consolidated Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2005 included an aggressive penalty provision drafted by Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA). This provision enabled the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to withhold up to $5 million in funding as a fine for Federal agencies that did not meet the goal of offering 100 percent of eligible workers the opportunity to telecommute. Those agencies include the departments of Commerce, Justice and State, as well as the Small Business Administration and the Securities and Exchange Commission. The law also required these agencies to report to Congress on their compliance with telework legislation by February 8, 2005.
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With the implementation of an effective telework policy in the Federal government, the United States could significantly decrease traffic and pollution in congested cities such as Washington, D.C., and improve employee recruitment and retention by enabling a better work-life balance.
The average commuter in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area spends 69 hours sitting in traffic each year, consuming 54 gallons of fuel and spending $600 in travel delay and excess fuel consumption, according to the Texas Transportation Institute’s most recent statistics, cited by the U.S. Department of Transportation. These costs would be avoided if commuters were able to travel at posted speeds.
Further, broad telework adoption could ensure the continuity of government operations in the aftermath of a major catastrophe, or even for the duration of a minor disruptive event, such as a snowstorm.
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View the latest results from the 2006 CDW-G Federal Telework Report.
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Review the findings of the 2005 CDW-G Federal Telework Reports.
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