Telework Survey Response Template – Member of Congress Request, September 28, 2011
Survey Questions
Response to Questions
How does the telework plan for
your department define telework?
Interior uses the definition of
telework from the 2010 Telework
Act. Our policy documents provide a
comprehensive explanation of the
benefits, the options and the
categories, as well as advising on how
to make telework a successful
program/policy.
Which positions in your
department are NOT eligible for
telework?
Approximately, how many
(number and percent of)
employees in your department are
NOT eligible to telework?
DOI uses the 2010 Telework Act
criteria for determining eligibility for
telework, which is linked to an
individual employee, not a position.
The only employees not eligible for
telework are those who have been
disciplined for downloading
pornography or being AWOL or not
performing at a fully satisfactory level.
We have 119 employees who are not
eligible to telework under the first
two criteria, or less than 0.2% of the
department's 70,000 employees.
Supplementary Notes From the
Department
DOI is currently assessing which
positions, due to the duties of those
positions, are not compatible for
telework. We expect the results to
identify a very small number of
positions that are not compatible for
at least situational telework.
What number and percent of
your employees telework from
home?
What number and percent of
your employees telework from an
alternative worksite?
Our current tracking capabilities do
not specifically address where
telework is performed. Anecdotally,
one sub-agency organization has a
major office (approx 20 people) who
permanently work from home. All
other teleworking is done from home
or in a mobile environment with less
than 1% working from an alternate
(not home) worksite.
In FY11, there were approx 5200
teleworkers –about 7.5% of the
70,000 DOI employees ranging from
1% to 30% of individual bureaus’
workforce.
Interior is in the process of improving
tracking capabilities through our time
and attendance system. These system
changes are expected to be in place
the fiscal year.
Identify the type and number of
alternative worksites available for
your employees to telework, i.e.,
the number of telecenters
available, the number of hoteling
arrangements available, and so
forth.
We do not have this information.
Due to Interior’s highly decentralized
organizational structure, our telework
program relies heavily on local
managers and facilities professionals
to identify and support alternative
work places.
Survey Questions
Response to Questions
Supplementary Notes From the
Department
Of the 2,087 work hours in a
year, provide data on the
approximate number and
percentage of those work hours
that are accomplished by
employees during telework, for
2010 and anticipated for 2011.
Data is very incomplete for FY 11 and
FY10. The range of work completed
via telework is .5% to 29% in
individual bureaus.
For purposes of accomplishing work,
DOI uses a work year of 1680 hours
to account for holidays, leave usage
and other non-work activities.
Provide data on the dollar amount
of savings in real estate costs
achieved by your department
through telework, from October
2010 through September 2011.
Provide data on the number of
work stations that are projected
to be consolidated or eliminated
as a result of telework over the
next year.
Our current tracking capabilities are
not gathering or reporting this type of
data.
Each bureau has developed a telework
implementation plan. We are
evaluating whether we can cost
effectively collect this type of
information going forward.
Provide specific examples of how
your department uses telework as
a recruitment tool and as a
retention tool.
Telework information is included on
job announcements and addressed
during interviews.
Many parts of Interior are converting
from desktop to laptop technology for
employees to use in case of
emergencies or for routine telework.
Is some cases, Interior organizations
allow retiring employees to relocate
to their final location and telework
prior to retirement to keep their
expertise, until a successor is
identified.
One unit allows all employees to
work permanently from home (virtual
worker).
Provide a copy of your
department’s telework plan and
any additional documents related
to telework, i.e., requirements
prescribed by your department
for telecommunications and
equipment for telework.
Our telework policy references IT,
privacy, etc. policies that are in place
across the department rather than
duplicate them and increase the risk
for having conflicting policies in place.
We are including a copy of our latest
Handbook (department policy).
Telework Handbook
Oct 11final.docx