6/4/08: Yesterday afternoon, the U.S. House of Representatives passed on a voice vote HR 4106, the Telework Improvements Act of 2007, sponsored by Representative Danny Davis (D-IL). This legislation largely follows recommendations NTEU made in congressional testimony last November.

The bipartisan bill seeks to ensure that all eligible employees will have the opportunity to telework. It defines teleworking employees as those who telework at least 20% of the time. The bill would require agencies to provide training on telework to both managers and employees and have each agency appoint a full-time Telework Managing Officer. Further, the Government Accountability Office would annually rate each agency’s compliance with the telework requirement.

Similar legislation (S. 1000) has been approved by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. The Senate bill also contains a provision authorizing a telework demonstration project important to NTEU-represented employees at the Patent and Trademark Office. NTEU is working with Senate leaders, particularly Chairman Daniel Akaka (D-HI) to move this bill to the floor. More information on the Senate bill is available at the NTEU Legislative Action Center by clicking HERE.