MNN - Mother Nature Network

Each year, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management surveys federal employees and in 2012, more than 687,000 participated in the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (PDF).  One of the special topics covered in the report is Teleworking.  The passage of the Telework Act of 2010 has created more teleworking opportunities for federal employees and the work-from-home landscape is changing. 

 

In 2011, one in four federal employees were eligible to telework.  That figure increased to one in three during 2012.  Although that is the government-wide average, teleworking numbers are much higher in many departments.  

 

Both the General Services Administration and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation reported that eight out of 10 employees teleworked at some point during the year with six out of 10 telecommuted at least once or twice a month.  

 

Three-fourths of employees at the National Science Foundation, Department of Education and Office of Personnel Management worked remotely at least part of the time.

 

Numerous studies have shown that teleworking improves employee satisfaction and this result was mirrored in the government’s viewpoint survey.  Global satisfaction scores are higher for those that telework, 69 percent, than those that don’t (62 percent).

 

Surprisingly, employee engagement is also higher among the teleworking population, 71 percent vs. 64 percent.

 

Perhaps these results will help the federal government expand its teleworking program.  If teleworking a few days a month can have such a positive impact on employee satisfaction, just imagine the impact that teleworking a few days a week would have.