Telework - The Crisp New Term for "Working from Home"
The Guide to Telework in the Federal Government informs and provides guidance on the Telework Enhancement Act of 2010, which was signed into law on December 9, 2010. The Act establishes baseline expectations for the federal telework program and is a key factor in the federal government’s ability to achieve greater flexibility in managing its workforce. The Telework Guide is an understandable roadmap for other employers to the future of a remote and plugged-in workforce, while complying with the myriad of laws that govern the traditional workplace.
The Telework Enhancement Act of 2010 defines "telework" as a work flexibility arrangement under which an employee performs his or her duties and responsibilities from an approved worksite other than the location from which the employee would otherwise work. The fundamental principle of the telework program is clear: telework is not an employee right. Federal law requires agencies to establish telework programs, but does not give individual employees a legal right to telework. Importantly, the Telework Guide states that telework may not be used as a substitute for dependent care [the Guide specifically states that it may be used as a reasonable accommodation], and that employee participation in telework is voluntary.
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