Telework Enhancement Act of 2010

Citation
Telework Enhancement Act of 2010, Pub. L. No. 111-292, 124 Stat. 3165 (Dec. 9, 2010), codified at chapter 65 of title 5, United States Code.

Overview
The Act requires each executive agency to designate a telework managing officer, establish a telework policy, and submit an annual report to the Chair and Vice Chair of the Chief Human Capital Officers (CHCO) Council on the agency’s efforts to promote telework. Under the Act, OPM is to play a leading role in helping agencies implement the new telework provisions. The law requires OPM to provide policy and policy guidance for telework in several areas, including pay and leave, agency closure, performance management, official worksite, recruitment and retention, and accommodations for employees with disabilities. In developing its telework policy and policy guidance, OPM is to consult with FEMA, GSA, and the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) relative to their designated areas of policy responsibility. NARA provides guidance to agencies on ensuring the federal government’s essential records are, among other things, secure and accessible to key federal personnel during emergencies.

The Act also includes several provisions related to the potential use of telework during emergencies. The law requires agencies to incorporate telework into their COOP plans. OPM is to report annually to Congress and provide its assessment of each agency’s progress toward its goals, such as the effect of telework on emergency readiness. Finally, the Act requires the Director of OPM to research the utilization of telework that identifies best practices and recommendations for the federal government and review the outcomes associated with an increase in telework. Agencies with jurisdiction over such matters as energy consumption, urban transportation patterns, and planning the dispersal of work during periods of emergency, shall work cooperatively with the Director, as necessary, to carry out these research responsibilities. Page