THE EVOLVING FEDERAL ROLE IN TELECOMMUTING

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THE EVOLVING FEDERAL ROLE IN TELECOMMUTING

• Paper By
• ED WEINER and ROBERT STEIN
• Presented by
• SHERRY RIKLIN

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EARLY FEDERAL INVOLVEMENT

• Early 1960s - Jack Nilles, began teleworking
  from Los Angeles to Washington, DC while working
  as a consultant to the US Air Force.
• 1973 - Nilles coined both the words
  telecommuting and teleworking
• Nilles began telecommuting movement but received
  little Federal interest

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FEDERAL FLEXIPLACE PILOT PROJECT1990 - 1993

• Flexiplace Objective to improve recruitment and
  retention of employees, improve quality of life,
  and reduce operating costs
• Pilot Objective - to gain experience with
  flexible work place arrangements in order to
  recommend policies and procedures
• Flexiplace - included work at home and at
  telecenters
• Covered 700 employees from 13 agencies

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FEDERAL FLEXIPLACE PILOT PROJECT Results

• Successful programs for employees
• For organizations, Flexiplace is feasible and
  desirable
• Participants reduced peak period travel by 75,
  and off peak travel by 33
• Flexiplace is ready for Government-wide
  implementation
• Should be limited to employees with proven
  performance records

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EMERGENCY USE OF TELECOMMUTING

• 1989 - Loma Prieta Earthquake San Francisco
• 1994 - Northridge Earthquake Los Angeles

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TRANSPORTATION IMPLICATIONS OF TELECOMMUTING

• Congressionally required study
• Review of past studies
• National analysis
• Forecast of future telecommuting 1992 - 2002

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PROJECTED FUTURE TELECOMMUTING
1992 1997 2002
No. of Telecommuters (millions) 2.0 3.1 - 6.2 7.5 - 15.0
of Labor Force 1.6 2.3 - 4.6 5.2 - 10.4
Working at Home 99.0 74.3 49.7
Telecommuters at Telecenters 1.0 25.7 50.3
Days per Week 1-2 2-3 3-4
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PROJECTED REDUCTION IN TRAFFIC DELAYS IN 339
URBAN AREAS
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EFFECT OF TELECOMMUTNG ON FUEL CONSUMPTION
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FEDERAL TELECOMMUTING CENTERS (TELECENTERS)

• 1992
• 5 million appropriated to GSA to establish 3
  telecenters for Federal employees in National
  Capital Region
• Funds provided for set up costs and operating
  subsidies for 3 years
• 1993
• Expanded to 6 million for 4 telecenters
• 1996 and Beyond (extended to 2000)
• Centers were to be self sustaining from fees
• By 2005
• Expanded to 14 telecenters

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FEDERAL TELECOMMUTING CENTERS (TELECENTERS)
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NATIONAL TELECOMMUTING INITIATIVE

• Background
• National Performance Review (Create and Evaluate
  Telecommuting Programs)
• Implement telecommuting program for US DOT
  employees
• Evaluate telecommuting in the private sector
• Climate Change Action Plan (Promote Greater Use
  of Telecommuting)
• Encourage use of ISTEA funds for telecommuting
• 1 - 2 of Federal employees telecommuting

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NATIONAL TELECOMMUTING INITIATIVE

• Initiated by USDOT and GSA
• Created under President's Management Council
• Objectives
• Increase Federal telecommuting to 60,000
  employees
• Promote increased telecommuting in state and
  local governments, and private industry

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NATIONAL TELECOMMUTING INITIATIVE

• Techniques
• Workshops for supervisors and employees
• Training for supervisors
• Procedure manuals and videos
• Model employee agreements
• Periodic reporting of progress

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BEST PRACTICES OF TELECOMMUTING PROGRAMS

• Congressionally required study
• Study successful telecommuting programs in the
  public and private sectors and publicize best
  practices
• TRB Workshop on Planning Regional Telecommuting
  Programs Irvine, CA

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BEST PRACTICES OF TELECOMMUTING PROGRAMS

• Top Management Support
• Employee Interest and Support
• Clearly Articulate Policies and Guidelines
• Support from Human Resource/Personnel Department
• Selection of Job Tasks
• Selection of Telecommuters
• Selection of Managers and Supervisors
• Establish Communication Methods
• Monitoring and Evaluation
• Equipment and Support

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MANDATING TELECOMMUTING BY FEDERAL EMPLOYEES

• FY 2001 DOT Appropriations Act Requires That Each
  Federal Agency
• Establish a telecommuting program
• Establish a policy under which eligible employees
  may participate in telecommuting to the maximum
  extent possible without diminished performance
• Initially cover 25 percent of the Federal agency
  workforce, with an additional 25 percent added
  each year thereafter

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NUMBER OF FEDERAL TELECOMMUTERS
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CURRENT SITUATION FEDERAL ROLE

• Federal Government
• Expand telecommuting to all eligible Federal
  employees
• Integrate telecommuting into the Federal
  Governments Continuity of Operation Program
  (COOP)

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CURRENT SITUATION FEDERAL ROLE

• State and Local Governments and Private Sector
• Promote telecommuting as a travel demand
  management (TDM) measure also transportation
  control measure (TCM)
• Provide funds for telecommuting programs
• CMAQ
• STP
• Provide technical assistance