5/21/09: A key Senate committee's approval this week of legislation that would expand federal telework opportunities is a needed and welcome step forward in efforts to expand the availability of this important workplace program, said NTEU National President Colleen Kelley.

The bill, the Telework Enhancement Act of 2009, would complement an enhanced telework initiative announced last month by Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Director John Berry. The measure, introduced by Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii), was approved today by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. It is similar to legislation introduced in the House in March.

“As the recent outbreak of swine flu has demonstrated, telework is an important tool for ensuring the continuity of government services in the event of a national emergency,” said President Kelley. “Not only does telework help maintain critical government functions, it also boosts morale and productivity among employees and reduces commute times and traffic congestion.”

President Kelley said the flexible telework opportunities provided to workers through S. 707 also would boost federal agencies' recruitment and retention efforts making a government career more attractive to current workers, as well as to the next generation of federal employees.

The Senate committee also approved bipartisan legislation, S. 469, that would modify the computation for part-time service under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). Currently, there is an anomaly in the law which penalizes federal employees under CSRS who choose part-time work at the end of their careers by not calculating their annuities correctly.

“Federal law should be clear and fair to all federal workers,” Kelley said. “This bill is good news for federal employees who choose to engage in part-time service toward the end of their careers.”

The committee also approved legislation regarding the re-employment of federal retirees.