Last Wednesday, the Senate approved a bill to broaden its federal telework programs. Under HR 1722, agencies now have 180 days to determine which of their individual employees are eligible to telework, and formulate a policy under which these workers could operate remotely.

In addition, in the case of government shutdowns similar to last winter’s snow storms, agencies are now required to incorporate telework into their continuity of operations plans. The bill also calls for increased education and training opportunities for government employees, managers, and supervisors in regards to the advantages of telework.

Patricia Niehaus, president of the Federal Managers Association, is one of many to voice her approval of the bill’s passage: “Telework has the potential to revolutionize federal agency operations and is a vital resource in meeting the challenges of retaining experienced professionals and enticing talented employees.”

Do you agree with Niehaus? Should the government implement more telework policies, or are there other, more worthy, issues that federal leaders should tackle first?