House Democrats Introduce Legislation to Protect Telework at Agencies

Democratic House members introduced legislation Thursday to protect and expand the use of telework at federal agencies, partly in response to recent policies to limit the practice at the Education and Agriculture departments. The Telework Metrics and Cost Savings Act introduced by Reps. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., and John Sarbanes, D-Md., would prohibit agencies from instituting agency-wide restrictions on how frequently employees use telework. It would require agencies to notify both the Office of Personnel Management and Congress of any plans to reduce telework going forward, coupled with a justification for the change. It also would require agencies to set annual goals for telework participation. In fiscal 2017, the Health and Human Services, Justice, and Housing and Urban Development departments did not submit any goals for telework participation.