Career Advice by Randy

This Article was brought to you by:

• Capture YouTube Video
• Convert YouTube
• Auto Reply Email Software
• sell endowment
• Article Spinner Tool
• Adult and Children Halloween Costumes
• Website Speed
• mesothelioma
• Pokeri
• How to Download YouTube Videos on PSP

The Federal government is the last bastion of employers who just do not get that allowing their workers to telecommute is a work life balance and a true diversity initiative. Although they do have flex time whereby employees can work 4 10 hour days and have a day off ever other week, that just does not replace the invaluable flexible scheduling that telecommuting allows. With gas prices continuing to go up well beyond the $3.00 per gallon range, transportation costs are a drain upon any family’s budget. Allowing employees to work from home 1-2 times a week will not only enhance productivity but also allow working families to reap an additional benefit of reduced transportation costs.

You would think that the Office of Personnel Management would lead the way in this but I can tell you that when I worked there nearly 4 years ago, there were many “managers” who, in the corporate world, would not have lasted a day. While it was attempted, too many managers shut down the idea in their departments because they wanted to actually “see” their employees at desks in front of them even though all of the work assigned could easily been accomplished from home 1-2 days a week. I had one of the most progressive managers that ever worked for OPM who approved my taking 2 days of telecommuting and we formed one of the best dynamic teams every to work there. Although I moved on to a higher level position away from the Federal government, I still see the massive transportation woes that people experience every day in the Washington DC area. I know this could be immediately affected positively with flexible telecommuting schedules.

If a manager or director feels that he/she cannot trust their employees to work from home, then that manager should not manage at all because he/she has not empowered their employees to gain the trust that should be there always. If they cannot manage a workload that would allow productivity no matter where the employee sits, then again we need new managers in the Federal government. If an employee does not adhere to the telecommuting policy or takes advantage of the policy then they should not work for that agency. I understand that not every position can be a telecommuting position but there are literally thousands that can. Let’s move beyond the dark ages of the past and into the future for our valuable government workers.

The Federal government is woefully behind the times with telecommuting even though it has been proven in study after study that it not only works but actually increases morale, productivity, trust, and loyalty. Now given those attributes, should we not as citizens compel the Federal government to take this productive step? I would suggest writing your Congressman and Senators and ask them to be more directive in nature. I know that many are working hard to make this happen but the time is now.

John Fuller is the Diversity & Equal Employment Opportunity Consultant for Johns Hopkins Hospital. He has held prior EEO positions with Fortune 300, the US Office of Personnel Management, and the Department of Defense. He holds a Master of Science in Leadership/Business Ethics from Duquesne University and a Master of Arts in Education from Norwich University. John has been directly involved in EEO and prevention of sexual harassment training and EEO investigations since 1989.

Useful Links:

iva is the real alternative if you are facing bankruptcy.