We invite you to attend a telecommuting seminar sponsored by the Office of Work/Life Programs. The seminar will be held on March 14, 2001 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Alan K. Campbell Auditorium. The seminar will highlight successful manager/employee telecommuting arrangements, and provide an update on the progress of the Interagency Telework Issues Working Group to clarify telecommuting policies. The new OPM one-stop web site will also be showcased. The agenda is attached for your information. If you plan to attend, please reply to mtburrus@opm.gov.

Also, in our February 9, 2001 memorandum to agency heads, we provided an update to the Reporting Form - Establishing Telecommuting Policies. Question No. 2 asks that you inform us of the total number of employees who are telecommuting. Based upon conversations with some Human Resources Directors, it has become apparent that we will need to capture not only those employees who are in a formal telecommuting arrangement, but also those employees who telecommute episodically. The reporting form has been revised accordingly and is attached for your use.

The April 2, 2001 reporting deadline is fast approaching. If you are unable to meet the deadline, please send the reporting form as close to the deadline as possible, but not later than April 16, 2001.

If you need additional assistance or information, please contact Mallie Burruss at 202-606-5529 (email: mtburrus@opm.gov) or Ron Patterson at 202-606-1740 (email: repatter@opm.gov).

Attachments

cc: Work/Life Coordinators
Telecommuting Coordinators

Attachment 1

Reporting Form - Establishing Telecommuting Policies

AGENCY NAME: _________________________________
REPORTING DATE: _________________________________
AGENCY CONTACT _________________________________

Name: _________________________________
Address: _________________________________
_________________________________
Phone Number: _________________________________
Email Address: _________________________________

1. Total Number of Employees in your Agency: _______________
2. Total Number of Employees Participating in Regularly Scheduled Telecommuting (averaging at least one day per week): _______________
   Total Number of Employees Participating in Non-Regularly Scheduled Telecommuting (averaging at least one day per week): _______________
   (Do not count typical work that involves travel most of the day)
3. Does your agency have a telecommuting policy? Yes _____ No _____
4. Does your policy cover all agency employees? Yes _____ No _____
5. If your answer to Question 4 is No, what percentage of your total workforce is covered by the policy?
   • Percentage of Total Workforce Covered: _____
   • Number of Employees Covered: _____
6. Does your policy include the following basic elements?
   • Identification of Positions Suitable for Telecommuting Yes _____ No _____
   • Definition of "Telecommuting": Yes _____ No _____
   • Definition of "Eligible Employee": Yes _____ No _____
   • Provision for Union participation: Yes _____ No _____
   • Performance Issues: Yes _____ No _____
   • Time and Attendance Issues: Yes _____ No _____
   • References to telecommunications, equipment, services: Yes _____ No _____
   • Liability and responsibility issues: Yes _____ No _____
   • Reporting Requirements Yes _____ No _____
   • Conditions of a Pilot Program (if appropriate) Yes _____ No _____

IN ADDITION: Provide - (1) a narrative discussion of your plans for developing policies for covering 100 % of your workforce if your existing policy covers only a portion (if you wish, you may attach a copy of your policy); and (2) identify problems/barriers associated with increasing the number of telecommuters in your agency.

RETURN BY APRIL 2, 2001, TO:

Office of Workforce Relations
(Attention: Mallie Burruss)
Office of Work/Life Programs
U.S. Office of Personnel Management
1900 E. Street, NW, Room 7316
Washington, DC 20415-2000

OR

FAX to: (202) 606-2091

Questions may be referred to Mallie Burruss at (202) 606-5529 (email: mtburrus@opm.gov) or Ron Patterson at (202) 606-1740 (email: repatter@opm.gov).

OPM 1651 (01/01)

Attachment 2