NETWORK WORLD TONI KISTNER'S TELEWORK BEAT 11/30/04 Today's focus: Survey shows government employees still confused about telework
Dear [EMAIL PROTECTED], In this issue: * Results contradict OPM claim that "nearly all" agencies have a ��telework policy * Links related to Telework Beat * Featured reader resource _______________________________________________________________ This newsletter is sponsored by GoRemote IDC Whitepaper: Assessing the Benefits of Managed Remote Access Although many companies have historically chosen to build out remote access solutions in-house, the cost of infrastructure; complexity of design and management in multiple access technology environments; and the growing diversity of remote workers, usage patterns, and device types make this approach much less desirable for the modern business environment. Register now to receive recommendations from IDC on how to assess the benefits of managed remote access. http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=88733 _______________________________________________________________ COMPREHENSIVE ENTERPRISE STORAGE INFORMATION Go to NW Fusion's Research Center for detailed information on enterprise storage. Find the latest breaking news, case studies, white papers, commentary, reviews and more. Topics on how ILM impacts your storage strategy, how to migrate to a new tape drive, how to link SAN islands and more are all found in the Research Center. Click here: http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=89285 _______________________________________________________________ Today's focus: Survey shows government employees still confused about telework By Toni Kistner FedNews Online - a daily e-mail newsletter for federal employees produced by solutions provider FPMI Solutions - recently released the results of a survey about telework. First the caveats. The newsletter and its surveys are open to anyone, not just federal employees. The organization disclaims the results from 700 respondents as "unscientific and anonymous." Even so, the results are interesting - and discouraging. When asked whether their agency currently has a telework policy in place, only 55% said Yes, 29% said No, 16% were unsure. Yet, according to OPM's annual report on telework, "virtually all" agencies have policies in place (see editorial link below). When respondents from agencies with policies were asked whether their manager had offered them telework, only 23% said yes; 69% said no; 8% checked "other." When respondents from agencies without telework polices were asked what it would take to create one, 26% said more pressure from OPM and GSA; 59% said penalization; 4% said more funding; 1% said if unable to recruit and retain employees; 1% said "loss of agency productivity"; and 9% chose "other." When asked if there is confusion in their agencies about who is telework-eligible, 52% said Yes; 26% said No; 22% were unsure if they were confused (which sounds like a "yes" to me.) When asked whether they would telework if offered the chance, 79% of respondents said Yes; 9% said No, 12% said they already did. The article also published several comments from respondents, including: * "There is lots of confusion in our agency as to who can and ��can't telecommute. It seems many managers are not comfortable ��with employees telecommuting because they will lose control of ��productivity and/or employee." * "Most supervisors believe if they cannot see their workers, ��then the workers would not be working. An old mindset we contend ��with. Just getting flex time took great effort, and it would be ��stopped if they could." When I sent the survey to a source at the GSA who prefers to remain anonymous, her comment was: "Unofficially, I am not at all surprised by the results. But the official position is that no new laws, mandates or penalties are needed." Yet, she added, "There is a lot of excitement and anticipation among telework advocates that agency appropriations bills might contain financial penalties for non-compliance with the law. But most all the appropriations are in limbo right now. At this point, anything could be written into - and written out of - the bills." The "law" she refers to is Public Law 106-346, � 359, enacted Oct. 23, 2000. RELATED EDITORIAL LINKS To subscribe to FPMI http://www.fpmi.com/FedNews OPM's telework report http://www.nwfusion.com/nlnetwork863 Telework laws http://www.telework.gov/twlaws.asp Government telework info http://www.telework.gov/ _______________________________________________________________ To contact: Toni Kistner Toni Kistner is managing editor of Net.Worker. Contact her at <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. _______________________________________________________________ This newsletter is sponsored by GoRemote IDC Whitepaper: Assessing the Benefits of Managed Remote Access Although many companies have historically chosen to build out remote access solutions in-house, the cost of infrastructure; complexity of design and management in multiple access technology environments; and the growing diversity of remote workers, usage patterns, and device types make this approach much less desirable for the modern business environment. Register now to receive recommendations from IDC on how to assess the benefits of managed remote access. http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=88732 _______________________________________________________________ ARCHIVE LINKS Archive of the Telework Beat (formerly Net.Worker) newsletter: http://www.nwfusion.com/net.worker/columnists/ Breaking telework and SMB news: http://www.nwfusion.com/net.worker/ _______________________________________________________________ FEATURED READER RESOURCE DOWNLOAD INDUSTRY WHITE PAPERS NOW NW Fusion's White Paper Library is your source for the latest industry white papers. Recent additions to the library include white papers on securing remote access, VOIP and productivity, domain name system best practices, WLAN security, IT documentation and much more. Click here to download: <http://www.nwfusion.com/vendorview/whitepapers.html> _______________________________________________________________ May We Send You a Free Print Subscription? 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