Senator James Lankford (R-OK) reintroduced the Telework Reform Act (S. 82) early in the 119th Congress. This legislation, endorsed by FMA, is identical to the bipartisan bill that passed the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in the 118th Congress. This commonsense legislation codifies the definitions of telework and remote work, aims to enhance supervisor training and monitoring, accountability, and reporting for these arrangements. Further, it orders agencies to “identify potential value from increasing remote and other telework opportunities, which job classifications could benefit from being performed through telework, and expected cost savings and productivity outcomes resulting from the increased use of remote work and telework.”

Among its specific provisions, S. 82 would:

• Require telework and remote work agreements between employees and agencies be renewed on an annual basis, including a review of agency needs;

• Require employees to take telework training every year;

• Require biannual surveys on telework usage; and,

• Require an annual review of telework guidelines by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

Please send the accompanying action letter to see this bill enacted in the 119th Congress.