U. S. General Services Administration, PBS, New England Region, 2003
GSA’s New England Region telework program has changed the face of business. The innovative model of a Telework Committee, which independently evaluates the telework program, has ensured equity and accountability throughout the region. Representation on the Telework Committee from the Executive Committee, Human Resources, Legal Counsel, Systems Administration, Union leadership, and interested supervisors and employees, has helped to shape a telework policy that stands out among the rest.
The non-traditional use of a Citrix based computer system has enabled employees to access the entire network from any location, resulting in improved customer satisfaction. Supervisors and employees report that they are building stronger relationships with each other because the program has compelled them to truly focus on the business tasks at hand and to communicate much more effectively.
The telework policy has eased the burden of the ever downsizing Federal Government. Today, with the significant loss of expertise and human capital due to downsizing, extended leave is a serious situation. The telework program has assisted the Region in reducing the number of hours employees are inaccessible.
Employees report that the Region One telework policy has improved the quality of their lives. By enabling employees the opportunity to work from alternative locations we are saving them countless hours in traffic jams, giving them more time to enjoy their families, and saving them significant dollars in commuting costs.
The success of the telework program in the New England Region is validated through the duplication of aspects of this policy in other regions. The New England Region began the program with ten percent of the workforce working from alternative locations, and today the Region boasts almost 45 percent of employees working from alternative locations.
For more information, please contact Ms. Roberta A. DeBettencourt at 617-565-5701 or by email at roberta.debettencourt@gsa.gov.
