RD335 - Telework in the Commonwealth 2010 - October 1, 2010


Executive Summary:
The Commonwealth currently lacks an “official” position and goal for the adoption of telework/alternative work schedules. The previous goal (20% of eligible employees teleworking by 2010 established by § 2.2-2817.1. State agencies to establish alternative work schedules; reporting requirement) was surpassed at the time of expiration (24%) in part due to the top-down commitment from Kaine that his cabinet offices would fully participate and report on telework participation as part of their weekly reporting process. Legislative initiatives introduced (2010 session shown below) to re-establish/expand employee telework goals were unsuccessful:

HB1144 (James Scott) – State employee telecommuting and alternative work schedule goals. Increases the target for eligible state employee participation in telecommuting and alternative work schedules to 40 percent in each respective program by January 1, 2012.

HB1015 (Tim Hugo) - Secretary of Administration; telecommuting and alternative work schedules for state employees; effectiveness. Provides that the Secretary of Administration, in cooperation with the Secretary of Technology, shall measure the effectiveness of the comprehensive statewide telecommuting and alternative work schedule policy. The bill provides that the head of each agency shall report annually to the Secretary on the status of any programs or policies developed and implemented pursuant to this section. Any agency head failing to comply with the requirements of this section shall forfeit one percent of the moneys appropriated for the operation of the agency as provided in the appropriation act. The Secretary shall so notify the Comptroller, who shall take such moneys and deposit them into the Literary Fund. The bill also requires the Department of Human Resource Management to notify state employees by email, or other method deemed appropriate by the Department, of the statewide telecommuting and alternative work schedule policy.

Despite the lack of an official “position” and legislated goals for telework, the Commonwealth continues to have employees participate in both alternative schedules and telework programs – both on a regular basis and as a component of COOP/Pandemic plans. The Commonwealth had (according to DHRM statistics) approximately 33% of eligible employees participating in teleworking/telecommuting on a REGULAR (*1) basis and another 56% of positions eligible for alternative work schedules (*2) participating (as of August 1, 2010). In the private sector arena, Telework!VA currently has 165 employers participating in the program resulting in the reduction of almost 30,000,000 (annually) Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) that are directly attributable to the program.

Agencies/entities in the Commonwealth continue to actively promote telework activities including the Secretaries of Administration, Technology, and Transportation; The Department of Rail and Public Transportation (Telework!VA); The Department of Accounts (guidance/policies related to payments for telework expenses); VITA; The Center for Innovative Technology (staffing for the Office of Telework Promotion and Broadband Assistance) and the Department of Human Resource Management.
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(*1) As defined in § 2.2-2817.1. “Telecommuting” means a work arrangement in which supervisors direct or permit employees to perform their usual job duties away from their central workplace at least one day per week and in accordance with work agreements.

(*2) As defined in § 2.2-2817.1 "Alternative work schedule" means schedules that differ from the standard workweek, 40-hour workweek schedule, if such schedules are deemed to promote efficient agency operations. Alternative work schedules may include, but not be limited to, four 10-hour days, rotational shifts, and large-scale job sharing.