House panel again tells agencies: Increase telework or lose funds

[The Straight Story]

House panel again tells agencies: Increase telework or lose funds

By Daniel Pulliam
[e-mail]

Congressional appropriators are intensifying efforts to allow federal employees the opportunity to work away from their offices.

Language in a spending bill approved by the House Appropriations Committee this week requires five agencies to prove that the number of teleworkers in their agency is increasing or give up $5 million in funding. The measure is sponsored by Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va., and according to his office, the measure will go to the full House on Tuesday.

Wolf said in a statement that he regrets "having to be so heavy handed" by threatening to withhold funding, but he believes that it is necessary in order to increase the number of federal employees allowed to telework.

"The federal government should be leading the way when it comes to teleworking, instead of being pushed into it," Wolf said. "There simply is just no magic in strapping ourselves in a metal box every day and driving ourselves to the office only to sit behind a computer or talk on the phone for eight hours."

http://govexec.com/dailyfed/0605/061005p1.htm

[Gman]

1. Telecommuting is union busting

Telecommuting is a huge anti-union tactic.

[acmejack]

2. They hate to let the workers out from under the corporate thumb!

Even when it is a perfect solution to the commuting issue.

[Eric J in MN]

3. I've done both, and I hate Telework.

It feels like not having a job.

[Pryderi]

4. Ex-governor Jerry "Moonbeam" Brown was 25-30 yrs ahead of his time

I believe he suggested back in the 70s or 80s that businesses hold teleconferences to cut down on commuting/smog.

[brokensymmetry]

5. Preview of peak oil?

Ask yourself...what if gasoline goes to $6 per gallon - as it is in Europe presently? What about $10 per gallon?

Maybe telework is an idea that needs to be considered.

[The Straight Story]

6. With my job

I could do almost all of it from home, and often once a week I will work from home. With the new IP phones we are getting my office phone will ring though my PC no matter where I am.

Since I drive about 40 miles total a day for work I could save 200 per week or 10,400 miles a year (over 400 gallon of gas). That does not include gas wasted when traffic is real bad.