Federal Telework: Additional Controls Could Strengthen Telework Program Compliance and Data Reporting

Citation
Government Accountability Office, Federal Telework: Additional Controls Could Strengthen Telework Program Compliance and Data Reporting (GAO-17-247) (Feb. 17, 2017) (full-text).

Overview
The Telework Enhancement Act of 2010 required agencies to develop telework policies and Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to provide guidance and report on telework use, among other things. The GAO was asked to review agency telework programs.

This report examines (1) how selected agencies comply with the Act's requirements, (2) the internal controls affecting federal supervisors' ability to hold teleworkers accountable for achieving results, and (3) the challenges selected agencies and OPM face in collecting and reporting telework data. The GAO selected four case study agencies for review &mdash; Education, General Services Administration, Labor, and Securities and Exchange Commission &mdash; based on agency size and telework participation rates.

The GAO makes recommendations to each of the case study agencies, including ensuring supervisors complete telework training in a timely manner and improving telework data. The GAO also recommends that OPM develop tools to help agencies assess telework barriers, and to improve telework data reported to Congress.