Technically Speaking

From – http://blog.tandberg.com/publicsector/index.php/2010/08/marine-corps-traffic-makes-case-for-telework/

Anyone who lives, works or drives through the Washington, D.C., region has probably had firsthand experience with D.C. traffic. It’s evil, unforgiving and soul crushing. And we’re not exaggerating.

With the federal government accounting for a large percentage of the workforce in the District, it’s fair to say that federal employees are a large part of the car traffic choking the major roads and highways surrounding D.C. during rush hour.

The effect of federal employees isn’t limited to just the area immediately surrounding Washington, D.C., however. Military bases and other large federal employers can cause similar situations in other regions.

Take for example a recent letter to the editor sent to the Free Lance-Star by a local Virginia man who travels to work along I-95. In his letter, the gentleman discusses the traffic he sees during his commute, and how the exit for the Marine Corps base at Quantico backs up onto the very major thoroughfare every morning. With his wife working at Quantico, he’s nervous that someone not paying attention will slam his car into the line of traffic backed up onto 95 and potentially hurt someone he loves.

In addition to the threat of an accident and potential harm that could come from it, this kind of daily commute through traffic is a nuisance and a time-suck. How much happier and more productive would these employees be if this could be avoided most mornings?

By embracing telework and advanced technologies like video teleconferencing (VTC) and telepresence that enable telework, the federal government could create a more productive workforce and do its part to keep traffic flowing across the country.

By breaking down the walls between public servants and telework, VTC is enabling a new way of working. So, why hasn’t your agency embraced telework?

“The second time may be the charm for HR 1722 — the Telework Improvements Act.

The measure, designed to expand the use of telework by federal employees, was defeated on the House floor last May by opponents who claimed to be worried about the ballooning Federal deficit.

But the principal author of the bill, Rep. John Sarbanes, (D.-Md.), isn’t giving up. He says the telework bill will be re-considered on the floor of the full House as early as tomorrow.”

Read more here

“The Senate passed legislation Monday that would make it easier for federal workers to work from home.”

“This winter’s snowstorms highlighted the need to develop flexible work arrangements to make sure the government can function during disruptive events,” Akaka said.

This is great news for Federal workers.  We don’t have to worry about snowstorms but we do have tsunamis!

Read more here

John Dvorak has a great article about the Teleworker Bill getting stalled.

“It’s called the 2009 Telework Improvements Act. It’s a bill now stalled in the U.S. House of Representatives, which would merely allow telework-eligible employees to work from home as appropriate and also require training for managers and supervisors on how to manage employees who are not at the office.

Let me check the date. Hmmm, it’s May 2010 and the merits of telework are still being debated.”

He thinks that the issues are not about worker productivity, they are about worker control.

Read the rest here

It is very hard for smaller companies beat the price of “Free” that Google offers for its standard services.

“I’ve recently been thinking about how Google Voice, Google Wave and Google Buzz joining the full Google Apps lineup would make it a budget-friendly teleworking platform. Organizations can now literally purchase themselves a “telework in a box” solution — a complete office productivity software, communications and collaboration package — with little or no requirement for support from their own technical staff.”

Read the 9 reasons here

A really great article about employees trying to get the work/life balance in order.  It speaks to how the Feds need to work harder to help their employees work smarter to work better.

“When it comes to helping federal employees develop a good balance between work and personal lives, Uncle Sam talks a good game, but his actions fall short.

Witnesses at a congressional hearing Tuesday agreed on the need for greater flexible work arrangements in the government. But many also agreed that although the government has made important steps in the right direction, it is moving too slowly and is meeting too much resistance from within.”

You can read the article here

“The Telework Improvements Act of 2009, which would allow more federal workers to telecommute, has been kicking around Congress for several years now. But this month, it moved out of committee in the House of Representatives and was recommended for a vote on the floor.

Back when it was the Telework Improvements Act of 2008, the bill was actually passed by the House. However, when that session of Congress ended, it was cleared from the books with all the other legislation that was not passed into law.”

Read more here