Obama signs telework bill into law
The telework bill for federal employees was signed into law today.
By Jolie Lee
Federal News Radio
President Obama signed into a law today the bipartisan telework bill that enhances telework opportunities for federal employees.
“We’re talking about bringing the government into the 21st century from a technology point of view and every other point of view,” bill sponsor Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.) told Federal News Radio last month after the House passed its version of the bill. The Senate had passed similar legislation in September.
Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Md.), one of the bill sponsors, said the legislation will be a key in recruiting and retaining the “best and brightest workers.”
According to Sarbanes’ website, the legislation will:
- Instruct OPM to issue government-wide telework guidelines and require each agency to develop a telework policy for their employees.
- Designate a Telework Managing Officer in each agency to oversee telework.
- Provide greater access to telework training and education and provide teleworks with greater protection against punitive treatment by supervisors and managers.
- Require each agency to integrate telework into its Continuity of Operations Planning.
- Require OPM to compile government-wide data on telework.
- Require the Government Accountability Office to evaluate agency compliance.
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