Reardon told Azar that changes to telework could lead to an exodus of HHS personnel, which could jeopardize his mission. Yes, yes. OPM offers web-based staff training modules in accordance with the requirements of the 2010 Telework Enhancement Act. Agencies may offer additional training or need additional training. Talk to your telecommuting coordinator or telecommuting manager to find out about all the training your agency can offer. The letter calls on HHS and the FDA to maintain the current telework policy and return to the bargaining table to negotiate a collective agreement with NTEU. The Internal Revenue Department sent an email to employees on Friday, informing all those eligible for telework as of Monday. IRS employees had been encouraged to telework, but Friday`s stop was described as a mandatory evacuation order. “If telecommuting and alternative hours are eliminated or limited, I will immediately start looking for other jobs,” said another worker.

“Working on HHS is an option if you don`t have to spend thousands of dollars of gas a year for hours.” The provisions of the Telework Enhancement Act apply only to civilian federal employees within the meaning of 5 USC 2105. However, there is no federal law or regulation specifically prohibiting telework for federal contractors. In general, the decision to authorize a contractor to telework would be made by the prime contractor and/or in collaboration with the principal/agent. Currently, most HHS employees work remotely on telework contracts three to five days a week. But the department is working to implement a recently guaranteed provision in its new collective agreement to reduce telework to one day per week. This provision is one of many administrative proposals that the Federal Services Committee had entrusted earlier this year. (In normal transactions, not during the COVID19 pandemic) Business casual atmosphere, free gym, a bit of telecommuting, a nice campus and good food. A recent survey of staff conducted by the National Treasury Employees Union in the Department of Health and Human Resources showed that more than 80% of respondents would consider reducing telework when they decide to stay in the department. Ability to work with all levels of management. Telework contracts. In a letter to HHS Secretary Alex Azar, NTEU National President Tony Reardon shared the survey results with several additional written responses from interviewees to encourage the department to reverse its path of reducing telework.

NTEU interviewed approximately 1,500 employees in their bargaining unit at HHS – union members and non-members – and found that workers expected HHS`s plan to reduce telework and leave the agreement at management`s discretion to be important. During the recent labour negotiations, HHS attempted to change its policy so that staff should report to the office at least four days a week. NTEU cited the results of its survey of 1,600 employees of the bargaining unit at HHS, which noted that five out of six respondents that reducing telework would be “a factor in the decision to leave HHS”. “If management continues to cut telecommuting, HHS and the FDA will lose some of our most valuable and experienced public servants – and the Agency and taxpayers cannot afford it,” wrote Anthony Reardon, national president of NTEU.