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U.S. spending bill encourages telecommuting
c|Net ^ | 12/01/2004 | Alorie Gilbert

Posted on 12/02/2004 8:29:10 AM PST by Prime Choice

The evening commute in the Washington area may soon be a little less hectic, thanks to a small provision embedded in the government's giant 2005 spending bill.

The provision, authored by Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.), requires several major federal agencies, including the Commerce, Justice and State Departments, to permit their employees to work from home or "telework." If they don't, the agencies could lose a $5 million slice of their budgets.

"With all the advances in technology today, there is just no reason to strap yourself in a metal box every morning only to drive to an office where you sit in front of a computer all day," Wolf said in the statement.

Congress approved the temporary $388 billion 2005 Omnibus Appropriations Bill, which is subject to revision, on Nov. 20.

The provision also withholds $5 million from the budgets of the Small Business Administration and the Securities and Exchange Commission until each expands its telecommuting policy to include all eligible workers.

In addition, the bill requires the departments to report the number of workers who telecommute to the Appropriations Committee on a quarterly basis and designate a "telework coordinator."

Just 6 percent of 1.7 million federal employees work from home at least once a week, according a recent survey of 74 agencies by the Office of Personnel Management.

"The benefits of teleworking far outweigh any potential downside that managers attempt to cite," Wolf said in his statement. "Survey after survey show that telecommuters are extremely productive. Telecommuters have higher morale, have less stress from fighting traffic every day and take fewer sick days."

One survey, reported on this week by the BBC, concluded that commuting ranks right up there with working as a fighter pilot or riot police officer in terms of stress.

The House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on a revised version of the 3,000-page spending bill on Monday.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: omnibusspendingbill; telecommuniting
Finally! Someone in the legislature gets it!
1 posted on 12/02/2004 8:29:11 AM PST by Prime Choice
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To: Prime Choice

Of course the employee productivity reports are open for all citizens to review. Right?


2 posted on 12/02/2004 8:32:16 AM PST by listenhillary (Tagline detective services. Missing or lost tag lines our specialty.)
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To: Prime Choice
Man, the last thing I would want to do is work from home every day.

Remember Bill Murray in "What About Bob?"

3 posted on 12/02/2004 8:33:39 AM PST by E. Pluribus Unum (Drug prohibition laws help fund terrorism.)
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To: Prime Choice

It would sure improve traffic here in DC.


4 posted on 12/02/2004 8:33:43 AM PST by The Old Hoosier (Right makes might.)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

I work from home. I find myself much more productive (beats cubicles hands down), I have regained the 1.5 hours (plus) I was spending in the car, and saving the money in gas, maintenance, and insurance I was spending before. I have the option to go into the office (telecommuter work areas) but rarely do so. In 23 years of my career, I have spend roughly 4 telecommuting. It's the way I want to finish my career, good Lord willing...


5 posted on 12/02/2004 8:52:22 AM PST by Dubh_Ghlase ("Every man dies, but not every man truly lives...." Braveheart)
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To: Prime Choice

I telecommunted today. Even attended a meeting of some importance. I used to work exclusively from home, but getting out of the house once in a while is also good. Balance Grasshopper.


6 posted on 12/02/2004 5:17:07 PM PST by numberonepal (Don't Even Think About Treading On Me)
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